MARJORIE 
AT   SEACOTE 


CAROLYN  WELL 


d  < 


/ 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 


jfiNIY,  OF  CALIF.  LIBRARY.  I.O»  ANGELES 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 

PATTY  SERIES 

PATTY  FAIRFIELD 
PATTY  AT  HOME 
PATTY  IN  THE  CITY 
PATTY'S  SUMMER  DAYS 
PATTY  IN  PARIS 

\. 

i      PATTY'S  FRIENDS 

PATTY'S  PLEASURE  TRIP 
PATTY'S  SUCCESS 
PATTY'S  MOTOR  CAR 
PATTY'S  BUTTERFLY  DAYS 

MARJORIE  SERIES 

MARJORIE'S  VACATION 
MARJORIE'S  BUSY  DAYS 
MARJORIE'S  NEW  FRIEND 
MARJORIE  IN  COMMAND 
MARJORIE'S  MAYTIME 
MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 


MARJORIE 
AT  SEACOTE 

'BY 

CAROLYN  WELLS 

AUTHOR    OF 
THE    "PATTY"    BOOKS 


GROSSET    &    DUNLAP 

PUBLISHERS  NEW   YORK 


COPYRIGHT,  1912,  BY 
DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 


CONTEXTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I  KITTY'S  DINNER          ...          1 

II  TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY        .  .        16 

III  THE   SAND   CLUB        ...        30 

IV  SAND  COURT      ....        44 
V  "  THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY  "  .58 

VI  Two  WELCOME  GUESTS        .  .        72 

VII  THE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH        .          .      86 

VIII  A  REVELATION  .          .          .      101 

IX  THE  SEARCH     .          .  .          -      115 

X  JESSICA  BROWN  .  .      129 

XI  THE  REUNION   .  .  .  .144 

XII  A  LETTER  OF  THANKS          .           .158 

XIII  THIRTEEN!         .           .  .           .174 

XIV  QUEEN  HESTER  .           .  .189 

XV  A  MOTOR  RIDE  .  .  .      204 

XVI  RED  GERANIUMS          .  .           .      218 

XVII  WHAT  HESTER  DID    .  .  .      232 

XVIII  A  FINE  GAME   ....      247 

XIX  MORE  FUN         .          .          .          .263 

XX  A  CELEBRATION  275 


2132541 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

CHAPTER  I 

KITTY'S  DINNER 

"  Kitty-Cat  Kitty  is  going  away, 
Going  to  Grandma's,  all  summer  to  stay. 
And  so  all  the  Maynards  will  weep  and  will  bawl, 
Till  Kitty-Cat  Kitty  comes  home  in  the  falL" 

THIS  affecting  ditty  was  being  sung  with  great 
gusto  by  King  and  Marjorie,  while  Kitty,  her  mood 
divided  between  smiles  and  tears,  was  quietly 
appreciative. 

The  very  next  day,  Kitty  was  to  start  for 
Morristown,  to  spend  the  summer  with  Grandma 
Sherwood,  and  to-night  the  "  Farewell  Feast  "  was 
to  be  celebrated. 

Every  year  one  of  the  Maynard  children  spent 
the  summer  months  with  their  grandmother,  and 
this  year  it  was  Kitty's  turn.  The  visit  was  al- 
ways a  pleasant  one,  and  greatly  enjoyed  by  the 
small  visitor,  but  there  was  always  a  wrench  at 
parting,  for  the  Maynard  family  were  affectionate 
and  deeply  devoted  to  one  another. 


2  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

The  night  before  the  departure  was  always  cel- 
ebrated by  a  festival  of  farewell,  and  at  this  feast 
tokens  were  presented,  and  speeches  made,  and 
songs  sung,  all  of  which  went  far  to  dispel  sad 
or  gloomy  feelings. 

The  Maynards  were  fond  of  singing.  They 
were  willing  to  sing  "  ready-made  "  songs,  and 
often  did,  but  they  liked  better  to  make  up  songs 
of  their  own,  sometimes  using  familiar  tunes  and 
sometimes  inventing  an  air  as  they  went  along. 
Even  if  not  quite  in  keeping  with  the  rules  for 
classic  music,  these  airs  were  pleasing  in  their  own 
«ars,  and  that  was  all  that  was  necessary. 

So,  when  King  and  Midget  composed  the  touch- 
ing lines  which  head  this  chapter  and  sang  them 
to  the  tune  of  "  The  Campbells  are  Coming,"  they 
were  so  pleased  that  they  repeated  them  many 
times. 

This  served  to  pass  pleasantly  the  half-hour 
that  must  yet  elapse  before  dinner  would  be  an- 
nounced. 

"Well,  Kit,"  remarked  Kingdon,  in  a  breath- 
ing pause  between  songs,  "  we'll  miss  you  lots,  o' 
course,  but  you'll  have  a  gay  old  time  at 
Grandma's.  That  Molly  Moss  is  a  whole  team  in 
herself." 

"  She's  heaps  of  fun,  Kitsie,"  said  Marjorie, 
"  but  she's  chock-a-block  full  of  mischief..  But  you 


KITTY'S  DINNER  3 

won't  tumble  head  over  heels  into  all  her  mis- 
chiefs, like  I  did!  'Member  how  I  sprained 
my  ankle,  sliding  down  the  barn  roof  with 
her?" 

"  No,  of  course  I  wouldn't  do  anything  like 
that,"  agreed  the  sedate  Kitty.  "  But  we'll  have 
lots  of  fun  with  that  tree-house ;  I'm  going  to  sit 
up  there  and  read,  on  pleasant  days." 

"  H'm, — lucky, — you  know  what,  King !  " 

"  H'm, — yes  !  Keep  still,  Mops.  You'll  give 
it  away." 

"  Oh,  a  secret  about  a  present,"  cried  Kitty ; 
"  something  for  the  tree-house,  I  know !  " 

"  Maybe  'tis,  and  maybe  'tain't,"  answered 
King,  with  a  mysterious  wink  at  Marjorie. 

"  Me  buyed  present  for  Kitty,"  said  Rosamond, 
smiling  sweetly ;  "  gold  an'  blue, — oh,  a  bootiful 
present." 

"  Hush,  hush,  Rosy  Posy,  you  mustn't  tell,"  said 
her  brother.  "  Presents  are  always  surprises. 
Hey,  girls,  here's  Father !  " 

Mr.  Maynard's  appearance  was  usually  a  signal 
for  a  grand  rush,  followed  by  a  series  of  bear 
hugs  and  a  general  scramble,  but  to-night,  owing 
to  festive  attire,  the  Maynard  quartette  were  a 
little  more  demure. 

"Look  out  for  my  hair-ribbons,  King!"  cried 
Midget,  for  without  such  warning,  hair-ribbons 


4  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

usually  felt  first  the  effects  of  the  good-natured 
scrimmage. 

And  then  Mrs.  Maynard  appeared,  her  pretty 
rose-colored  gown  of  soft  silk  trailing  behind  her 
on  the  floor. 

"  What  a  dandy  mother !  "  exclaimed  King ;  "  all 
dressed  up,  and  a  flower  in  her  hair !  " 

This  line  sounded  singable  to  Marjorie,  so  she 
tuned  up: 

"  All  dressed  up,  and  a  flower  in  her  hair, 
To  give  her  a  hug,  I  wouldn't  dare; 
For  she  would  feel  pretty  bad,  I  think, 
If  anything  happened  to  that  there  pink!" 

Then  King  added  a  refrain,  and  in  a  moment 
they  had  all  joined  hands  and  were  dancing  round 
Mrs.  Maynard  and  singing: 

"  Hooray,  hooray,   for  our  mother  fair ! 
Hooray,  hooray,  for  the  flower  in  her  hair! 
All  over  the  hills  and  far  away, 
There's  no  one  so  sweet  as  Mothery  May ! " 

Being  accustomed  to  boisterous  adulation  from 
her  children,  Mrs.  Maynard  bore  her  honors  grace- 
fully, and  then  they  all  went  out  to  dinner. 

As  Maiden  of  Honor,  Kitty  was  escorted  by 
her  father;  next  came  Mrs.  Maynard  and  King- 
don,  and  then  Marjorie  and  Rosy  Posy.  The  table 


KITTY'S  DINNER  5 

had  extra  decorations  of  flowers  and  pink-shaded 
candles,  and  at  Kitty's  place  was  a  fascinating 
looking  lot  of  tissue-papered  and  ribbon-tied 
parcels. 

"  Isn't  it  funny,"  said  sedate  and  philosophical 
Kitty,  "  I  love  to  go  to  Grandma's,  and  yet  I  hate 
to  leave  you  all,  and  yet,  I  can't  do  one  without 
doing  the  other !  " 

"  'Tis  strange,  indeed,  Kit ! "  agreed  her 
father ;  "  as  Mr.  Shakespeare  says,  '  Yet  every 
sweet  with  sour  is  tempered  still.'  Life  is  like 
lemonade,  sour  and  sweet  both." 

"  It's  good  enough,"  said  Kitty,  contentedly, 
looking  at  her  array  of  bundles.  "  I  guess  I'll 
open  these  now." 

"  That's  what  they're  there  for,"  said  Mrs. 
Maynard,  so  Kitty  excitedly  began  to  untie  the 
ribbons. 

"  I'll  go  slowly,"  she  said,  pulling  gently  at 
a  ribbon  bow,  "  then  they'll  last  longer." 

"Now,  isn't  that  just  like  you,  Kit!"  ex- 
claimed Marjorie.  "  I'd  snatch  the  papers  off  so 
fast  you  couldn't  see  me  jerk." 

"  I  know  you  would,"  said  Kitty,  simply. 

The  sisters  were  very  unlike,  for  Midget's  ways 
were  impulsive  and  impatient,  while  Kitty  was 
slow  and  careful.  But  finally  the  papers  came 
off,  and  revealed  the  lovely  gifts. 


6  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Mrs.  Maynard  had  made  a  pretty  silk  work- 
bag,  which  could  be  spread  out,  or  gathered  up 
close  on  its  ribbon.  When  outspread,  it  showed 
a  store  of  needles  and  thread,  of  buttons,  hooks, 
tapes, — everything  a  little  girl  could  need  to  keep 
her  clothes  in  order. 

"Oh,  Mother,  it's  perfect!"  cried  Kitty,  ec- 
statically. "  I  love  those  cunning  little  pockets, 
with  all  sewy  things  in  them !  And  a  darling 
silver  thimble!  And  a  silver  tape  measure,  and 
a  silver-topped  emery!  Oh,  I  do  believe  I'll  sew 
all  the  time  this  summer !  " 

"Pooh,  /  wouldn't!"  said  Marjorie.  "The 
things  are  lovely,  but  I'd  rather  play  than 
sew." 

"  Sewing  is  play,  I  think,"  and  Kitty  fingered 
over  her  treasures  lovingly.  "  Grandma  will  help 
me  with  my  patterns,  and  I'm  going  to  piece  a 
silk  teachest  quilt.  Oh,  Mother,  it  will  be  such 
fun!" 

"Call  that  fun!"  and  Marjorie  looked  dis- 
dainfully at  her  sister.  "  Fun  is  racing  around 
and  playing  tag,  and  cutting  up  jinks  generally !  " 

"  For  you  it  is,"  Kitty  agreed,  amiably,  "  but 
not  for  me.  I  like  what  I  like." 

"  That's  good  philosophy,  Kitty,"  said  her 
father.  "  Stick  to  it  always.  Like  what  you  like, 
and  don't  be  bothered  by  other  people's  com- 


KITTY'S  DINNER  7 

ments  or  opinions.  Now,  what's  in  that  smallish, 
flattish,  whitish  parcel?  " 

The  parcel  in  question  proved  to  be  a  watch, 
a  dear  little  gold  watch.  Kitty  had  never  owned 
one  before,  and  it  almost  took  her  breath  away. 

"  Mine?  "  she  exclaimed,  in  wonder.  "  All 
mine?" 

"  Yes,  every  bit  yours,"  said  Mr.  Maynard, 
smiling  at  her.  "  Every  wheel  and  spring,  every 
one  of  its  three  hands,  every  one  of  its  twelve 
hours  are  all,  all  yours.  Do  you  like  it?  " 

"  Like  it !  I  can't  think  of  any  words  to  tell 
you  how  much  I  like  it." 

"  I'll  think  of  some  for  you,"  said  the  accom- 
modating Marjorie.  "  You  could  say  it's  the 
grandest,  gloriousest,  gorgeousest,  magnificentest 
present  you  ever  had !  " 

"  Yes,  I  could  say  that,"  Kitty  agreed,  "  but  I 
never  should  have  thought  of  it.  I  'most  always 
say  a  thing  is  lovely.  Now,  what  in  the  world 
is  this?" 

"  This  "  proved  to  be  a  well-stocked  portfolio, 
the  gift  of  King.  There  were  notepaper  and  en- 
velopes and  a  pen  and  pencils  and  stamps  and 
everything  to  write  letters  with. 

"  I  picked  out  all  the  things  myself,"  King 
explained,  "  because  it's  nicer  that  way  than  the 
ready  furnished  ones.  Do  you  like  it,  Kit?  " 


8  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Yes,  indeedy !  And  I  shall  write  my  first  let- 
ter to  you,  because  you  gave  it  to  me." 

"Oh,  Kitty-Cat  Kit,  a  letter  she  writ, 
And  sent  it  away,  to  her  brother  one  day," 

chanted  Marjorie,  and,  as  was  their  custom,  they 
all  sang  the  song  after  her,  some  several  times 
over. 

"Now  for  mine,"  Midget  said,  as  Kitty  slowly 
untied  the  next  parcel.  It  was  two  volumes  of 
Fairy  Tales,  which  literature  was  Kitty's  favorite 
reading. 

"  Oh,  lovely !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  On  summer 
afternoons  you  can  think  of  me  sitting  out  in  the 
tree-house  reading  these.  I  shall  pretend  I'm  a 
Fairy  Princess.  These  are  beautiful  stories,  I 
can  see  that  already." 

Kitty's  quick  eye  had  caught  an  interesting 
page,  and  forgetting  all  else,  she  became  absorbed 
in  the  book  at  once.  In  a  moment,  the  page  was 
turned,  and  Kitty  read  on  and  on,  oblivious  to 
time  or  place. 

"  Hi,  there,  Kitsie !  Come  out  o'  that !  "  cried 
King.  ''  You  can  read  all  summer, — now  you  must 
associate  with  your  family." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to,"  said  Kitty,  shutting  the 
book  quickly,  and  looking  round  apologetically; 


KITTY'S  DINNER  9 

"  but  it's  all  about  a  fairy  godmother,  and  a 
lovely  princess  lady, — oh,  Mopsy,  it's  fine!  " 

A  pair  of  little  blue  enamelled  pins  was  Rosa- 
mond's present,  and  Kitty  pinned  them  on  her 
shoulders  at  once,  to  see  how  they  looked.  All 
pronounced  the  effect  excellent,  and  Rosy  Posy 
clapped  her  little  fat  hands  in  glee. 

"  Mine's  the  prettiest  present ! "  she  said. 
"  Mine's  the  booflest !  " 

"  Yes,  Babykins,"  said  Kitty,  "  yours  is  the 
booflest, — but  they're  all  lovely." 

The  Farewell  Feast  included  all  of  Kitty's 
favorite  dishes,  and  as  most  of  them  were  also 
favorites  with  the  other  children,  it  was  satis- 
factory all  round. 

"  You  must  write  to  us  often,  Kit,"  said  King ; 
"  I  gave  you  those  writing  things  so  you'd  be 
sure  to." 

"  Yes,  I  will ;  but  I  don't  know  yet  where  you're 
all  going  to  be." 

"  I  don't  know  yet  myself,"  said  Mr.  Maynard, 
"  but  it  will  be  somewhere  near  the  sea,  if  possible. 
Will  you  like  the  seashore,  Kiddies, — you  that 
are  going?  " 

"I  shall,"  said  Marjorie,  promptly.  "I'll  love 
it.  May  we  go  bathing  every  day?  And  can 
I  have  a  bathing  suit, — red,  trimmed  with 
white?" 


10  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  I  'spcct  you  can,"  said  her  mother,  smiling 
at  her.  .""What  color  do  you  want,  King?  " 

•'«jh,'-I  think  dark  blue  would  suit  my  manly 
beauty !  What  are  you  going  to  have,  Father?  '* 

"  I  think  dark  blue  will  be  our  choice,  my  boy. 
It  swims  better  than  anything  else.  But  first  we 
must  find  a  roof  to  cover  our  heads.  I've  about 
decided  on  one, — if  I  can  get  it.  It's  a  bunga- 
low." 

"What's  a  bungalow?"  asked  Marjorie.  "I 
never  heard  of  such  a  thing." 

"  Ho,  ho !  Never  heard  of  a  bungalow !  "  said 
King.  "  Why,  a  bungalow  is  a, — is  a, " 

"  Well,  is  a  what  ?  "  asked  Midget,  impatiently. 

"Why,  it's   a  bungalow!     That's  what  it  is." 

"  Fine  definition,  King !  "  said  his  father.  "  But 
since  you  undertook  to  do  so,  see  if  you  can't  give 
its  meaning  better  than  that.  What  is  a  bunga- 
low?" 

"  Well,  let  me  see.  It's  a  house, — I  guess  it's 
a  low,  one-storied  house,  and  that's  why  they  call 
it  bungalow.  Is  that  it  ?  " 

;'  You're  right  about  the  one  story ;  the  rest  is, 
I  think,  your  own  invention.  Originally,  the  bun- 
galow was  the  sort  of  a  house  they  have  in  India, 
a  one-storied  affair,  with  a  thatched  roof,  and 
verandas  all  round  it.  But  the  ones  they  build 
now,  in  this  country,  are  often  much  more  elab- 


KITTY'S  DINNER  11 

orate  than  that.  Sometimes  they  have  one  story, 
sometimes  more.  The  one  I'm  trying  to  get  for 
the  summer  is  at  Seacote,  and  it's  what  they  call 
a  story  and  a  half.  That  is,  it  has  an  upper  floor, 
but  the  rooms  are  under  a  slanting  roof,  and  have 
dormer  windows." 

"  Sounds  good  to  me,"  said  King.  "  Do  you 
think  you'll  catch  it,  Dad?" 

"  I  hope  so.  Some  other  person  has  the  re- 
fusal of  it,  but  he's  doubtful  about  taking  it.  So 
it  may  yet  fall  to  our  lot." 

"I  hope  so!"  cried  Marjorie.  "At  the  sea- 
shore for  a  whole  summer !  My !  what  fun  !  Can 
we  dig  in  the  sand?  " 

"  Well,  rather,  my  child !  That's  what  the  sand 
is  there  for.  Kitty,  you  were  at  the  seashore  last 
summer.  Did  you  dig  in  the  sand?  " 

"  Yes,  every  day ;  and  it  was  lovely.  But  this 
year  I'm  glad  I'm  going  to  Grandma's.  It's  more 
restful." 

They  all  laughed  at  Kitty's  desire  for  rest,  and 
Marjorie  said: 

"  7  didn't  have  such  a  restful  time  at  Grandma's. 
Except  when  I  sprained  my  ankle, — I  rested 
enough  then!  But  you  won't  do  anything  like 
that,  Kit !  " 

"  I  hope  not,  I'm  sure.  Nor  I  won't  fall  down 
the  well,  either !  " 


12  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Oh,  we  didn't  fall  down  the  well.  We  just 
went  down,  to  get  cooled  off." 

"  Well,  I'm  not  going  to  try  it.  I  shall  sit 
in  the  tree-house  and  read  every  afternoon,  and 
sew  with  Grandma  in  the  mornings." 

"  Kit,  you're  a  dormouse,"  said  Kingdon ;  "  I 
believe  you'd  like  to  sleep  half  the  year." 

"  'Deed  I  wouldn't.  Just  because  I  don't  like 
rambunctious  play  doesn't  mean  I  want  to  sleep 
all  the  time!  Does  it,  Father?  " 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  But  you  children  must  *  like 
what  you  like  '  and  not  comment  on  others'  '  likes.' 
See?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  King,  understanding  the  kindly 
rebuke.  "  Hullo,  Kit,  here's  one  of  your  best 
*  likes  ' !  Here's  pink  ice-cream  coming !  " 

This  was  indeed  one  of  Kitty's  dearest  "  likes," 
and  as  none  of  the  Maynards  disliked  it,  it  rapidly 
disappeared. 

"  Now,  we'll  have  an  entertainment,"  said  King 
as,  after  dinner,  they  all  went  back  to  the  pleasant 
living-room.  "  As  Kitty  is  the  chief  pebble 
on  the  beach  this  evening,  she  shall  choose 
what  sort  of  an  entertainment.  Games,  or 
what?  " 

"No,  just  a  real  entertainment,"  said  Kitty; 
"  a  programme  one,  you  know.  Each  one  must 
sing  a  song  or  speak  a  piece,  or  something  like 


KITTY'S  DINNER  13 

that.  I'll  be  the  audience,  and  you  can  all  be  per- 
formers." 

"All  right,"  said  King;  "I'll  be  master  of 
ceremonies.  I'll  make  up  the  programme  as  I  go 
along.  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  our  first  number 
will  be  a  speech  by  the  Honorable  Edward  May- 
nard.  Mr.  Maynard  will  please  step  forward." 

Mr.  Maynard  stepped.  Assuming  a  pompous 
air,  he  made  a  low  bow,  first  to  Kitty,  and  then 
to  the  others. 

"  My  dear  friends,"  he  said,  "  we  are  gathered 
here  together  this  evening  to  extend  our  fare- 
wells and  our  hearty  good  wishes  to  the  lady  about 
to  leave  us.  Sister,  thou  art  mild  and  lovely,  and 
we  hate  to  see  thee  go ;  but  the  best  of  friends 
must  sever,  and  you'll  soon  come  back,  you  know. 
Listen  now  to  our  advices.  Kitty,  dear,  for  pity's 
sake,  do  not  tumble  in  the  river, — do  not  tumble 
in  the  lake.  Many  more  things  I  could  tell  you 
as  I  talk  in  lovely  rhyme,  but  I  think  it  is  my 
duty  to  let  others  share  the  time." 

Mr.  Maynard  sat  down  amid  great  applause, 
and  Kitty  said,  earnestly,  "  You  are  a  lovely 
poet,  Father.  I  wish  you'd  give  up  your  other 
business,  and  just  write  books  of  poetry." 

"  I'm  afraid,  Kitsie,  we  wouldn't  have  enough 
money  for  pink  ice-cream  in  that  case,"  said  Mr. 
Maynard,  laughing. 


14  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"The  next  performeress  will  be  Mrs.  May- 
nard," announced  the  master  of  ceremonies. 

Mother  Maynard  rose,  smiling,  and  with  all 
the  airs  and  graces  of  a  prima  donna,  went  to 
the  piano.  Striking  a  few  preliminary  chords, 
she  began  to  sing: 

"Good-bye,  Kitty;  good-bye,  Kitty;  good-bye,  Kitty, 

You're  going  to  leave  us  now. 
Merrily  we  say  good-bye, 

Say   good-bye,   say   good-bye; 
Merrily  we  say  good-bye 
To  sister  Kitty-Kit." 

This  had  a  pleasant  jingle,  and  was  repeated 
by  the  whole  assembly  with  fine  effect  and  a  large 
volume  of  noise. 

"Miss  Marjorie  Maynard  will  now  favor  us," 
was  the  next  announcement. 

"This  is  a  poem  I  made  up  myself,"  said 
Midget,  modestly,  "  and  I  think  it's  very  nice: 

"When  Kitty  goes  to  Grandma's 

I  hope  she  win  be  good; 
And  be  a  lady-girl  and  do 

Exactly  as  she  should. 
'Cause  when  7  go  to  Grandma's, 

I  act  exceeding  bad; 
I  track  up  IJza's  nice  clean  floor, 

And  make  her  hopping  mad!" 

Marjorie's  poem  was  applauded  with  cheers, 
as  they  all  recognized  its  inherent  truth. 


KITTY'S  DINNER  15 

"  We  next  come  to  Miss  Rosamond  Maynard," 
King  went  on,  "  but  as  she  has  fallen  asleep,  I 
will  ask  that  the  audience  kindly  excuse  her." 

The  audience  kindly  did  so,  and  as  it  was  get- 
ting near  everybody's  bedtime, — at  least,  for  chil- 
dren,— the  whole  quartette  was  started  bedward, 
and  went  away  singing: 

"  Good-bye,  Kitty,  you're  going  to  leare  05  now"— 


CHAPTER  II 

TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY 

"  JUMPING  Grasshoppers !  What  a  dandy 
house ! " 

The  Maynards'  motor  swung  into  the  driveway 
of  a  large  and  pleasant  looking  place,  whose  lawn 
showed  some  sand  spots  here  and  there,  and  whose 
trees  were  tall  pines,  but  whose  whole  effect  was 
delightfully  breezy  and  seashorey. 

"  Oh,  grandiferous !  "  cried  Marjorie,  echoing 
her  brother's  enthusiastic  tones,  and  standing  up 
in  the  car,  better  to  see  their  new  home. 

Seacote,  the  place  chosen  by  Mr.  Maynard  for 
his  family's  summering,  was  on  the  southern  shore 
of  Long  Island,  not  very  far  from  Roclcaway 
Beach.  It  was  a  sort  of  park  or  reservation  in 
which  building  was  under  certain  restrictions,  and 
so  it  was  made  up  of  pleasant  homes  filled  with 
pleasant  people. 

Fortunately,  Mr.  Maynard  had  been  able  to 
rent  the  bungalow  he  wanted,  and  it  was  this 
picturesque  domicile  that  so  roused  King's  ad- 
miration. 

The  house  was  long  and  low,  and  surrounded 
16 


TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY  17 

by  verandas,  some  of  which  were  screened  by 
vines,  and  others  shaded  by  striped  awnings. 

But  what  most  delighted  the  children  was  the 
fact  that  the  ocean  rolled  its  crested  breakers  up 
to  their  very  door.  Not  literally  to  the  door,  for 
the  road  ran  between  the  sea  and  the  house,  and 
a  boardwalk  was  between  the  road  and  the  sea. 
But  not  fifty  feet  from  their  front  windows  the 
shining  waves  were  even  now  dashing  madly  to- 
ward them  as  if  in  tumultuous  welcome. 

The  servants  were  already  installed,  and  the 
open  doors  seemed  to  invite  the  family  to  come 
in  and  make  themselves  at  home. 

"  Let's  go  straight  bang  through  the  whole 
house,"  said  King,  "  and  then  outdoors  after- 
ward." 

"  All  right,"  agreed  Marjorie,  and  in  their 
usual  impetuous  fashion,  the  two  raced  through 
the  house  from  attic  to  cellar,  though  there  really 
wasn't  any  attic,  except  a  sort  of  low-ceiled  loft. 
However,  they  climbed  up  into  this,  and  then 
down  through  the  various  bedrooms  on  the  second 
floor,  and  back  to  the  first  floor,  which  contained 
the  large  living-room,  a  spacious  hall,  and  the 
dining-room  and  kitchen. 

"  It's  all  right,"  said  King,  nodding  his  head 
in  approval.  "  Now  outside,  Midget." 

Outside  they  flew,  and  took  stock  of  their  sur- 


18  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

roundings.  Almost  an  acre  of  ground  was  theirs, 
and  though  as  yet  empty  of  special  interest,  King 
could  see  its  possibilities. 

"  Room  for  a  tennis  court,"  he  said ;  "  then  I 
guess  we'll  have  a  big  swing,  and  a  hammock,  and 
a  tent,  and " 

"  And  a  merry-go-round,"  supplemented  Mr. 
Maynard,  overhearing  King's  plans. 

"No,  not  that,  Father,"  said  Marjorie,  "but 
we  can  have  swings  and  things,  can't  we?  " 

"  I  'spect  so,  Mopsy.  But  with  the  ocean  and 
the  beach,  I  doubt  if  you'll  stay  in  this  yard 
much." 

"  Oh,  that's  so ;  I  forgot  the  ocean !  Come  on, 
Father,  let's  go  and  look  at  it." 

So  the  three  went  down  to  the  beach,  and  Mar- 
jorie, who  hadn't  been  to  the  seashore  since  she 
was  a  small  child,  plumped  herself  down  on  the 
sand,  and  just  gazed  out  at  the  tumbling  waves. 

"  I  don't  care  for  the  swings  and  things,"  she 
said.  "  I  just  want  to  stay  here  all  the  time,  and 
dig  and  dig  and  dig." 

As  she  spoke  she  was  digging  her  heels  into  the 
fine  white  sand,  and  poking  her  hands  in,  and 
burying  her  arms  up  to  her  dimpled  elbows. 

"  Oh,  Father,  isn't  it  gee-lorious !  Sit  down, 
won't  you,  and  let  us  bury  you  in  sand,  all  but 
your  nose! " 


TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY  19 

"  Not  now,"  said  Mr.  Maynard,  laughing. 
"  Some  day  you  may,  when  I'm  in  a  bathing  suit. 
But  I  don't  care  for  pockets  full  of  sand.  Now, 
I'm  going  back  to  home  and  Mother.  You  two 
may  stay  down  here  till  luncheon  time  if  you 
like." 

Mr.  Maynard  went  back  to  the  house,  and  King 
and  Marjorie  continued  their  explorations.  The 
beach  was  flat  and  smooth,  and  its  white  sand 
was  full  of  shells,  and  here  and  there  a  few  bits 
of  seaweed,  and  farther  on  some  driftwood,  and 
in  the  distance  a  pier,  built  out  far  into  the 
ocean. 

"Did  you  ever  see  such  a  place?  "  cried  Mar- 
jorie, in  sheer  delight. 

"  Well,  I  was  at  the  seashore  last  year,"  said 
King,  "  while  you  were  at  Grandma's." 

"  But  it  wasn't  as  nice  as  this,  was  it?  Say  it 
wasn't !  " 

"  No ;  the  sand  was  browner.  This  is  the  nicest 
sand  I  ever  saw.  Say,  Mops,  let's  build  a  fire." 

"What  for?     It  isn't  cold." 

"  No,  but  you  always  build  fires  on  the  beach. 
It's  lots  of  fun.  And  we'll  roast  potatoes  in  it." 

"All  right.     How  do  we  begin?" 

"  Well,  we  gather  a  lot  of  wood  first.  Come 
on." 

Marjorie   came   on,  and   they   worked   with   a 


20  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

will,  gathering  armfuls  of  wood  and  piling 
it  up  near  the  spot  they  had  selected  for  their 
fire. 

"That's  enough,"  said  Mar j one,  for  her  arms 
ached  as  she  laid  down  her  last  contribution  to 
their  collection. 

"  You'll  find  it  isn't  much  when  it  gets  to  burn- 
ing. But  never  mind,  it  will  make  a  start.  I'll 
skin  up  to  the  house  and  get  matches  and  pota- 
toes." 

"  I'll  go  with  you,  'cause  I  think  we'd  better 
ask  Father  about  making  this  fire.  It  might  do 
some  harm." 

"  Fiddlesticks !  We  made  a  fire  'most  every 
day  last  summer." 

And,  owing  to  King's  knowledge  and  experi- 
ence regarding  beach  fires,  his  father  told  him 
he  might  build  one,  and  to  be  properly  careful 
about  not  setting  fire  to  themselves. 

Then  they  procured  potatoes  and  apples  from 
the  kitchen,  and  raced  back  to  the  beach. 

"Why,  where's  our  wood?"  cried  Marjorie. 

Not  a  stick  or  a  chip  remained  of  their  care- 
fully gathered  wood  pile. 

"  Some  one  has  stolen  it !  "  said  King. 

"  No,  there's  nobody  around,  except  those  peo- 
ple over  there,  and  they're  grown-ups.  It  must 
have  been  washed  away  by  a  wave." 


TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY  21 

"  Pooh,  the  waves  aren't  coming  up  near  as  far 
as  this." 

"  Well,  there  might  have  been  a  big  one." 

"  No,  it  wasn't  a  wave.  That  wood  was 
stolen,  Mops !  " 

"  But  who  could  have  done  it  ?  Those  grown- 
up people  wouldn't.  You  can  see  from  their  looks 
they  wouldn't.  They're  reading  aloud.  And  in 
the  other  direction,  there  are  only  some  fishermen, 
— they  wouldn't  take  it." 

"  Well,  somebody  did.  Look,  here  are  lots  of 
footprints,  and  I  don't  believe  they're  all  ours.'* 

Sure  enough,  on  the  smooth  white  sand  they 
could  see  many  footprints,  imprinted  all  over  each 
other,  as  if  scurrying  feet  had  trodden  all  around 
their  precious  wood  pile. 

"  Oh,  King,  you're  just  like  a  detective!  "  cried 
Marjorie,  in  admiration.  "  But  it's  so !  These 
aren't  our  footprints  !  " 

She  fitted  her  spring-heeled  tan  shoes  into  the 
prints,  and  proved  at  once  that  they  were  not 
hers.  Nor  did  King's  shoes  fit  exactly,  though 
they  came  nearer  to  it  than  Marjorie's. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  some  fellows  came  along  and  stole 
that  wood.  Here  are  two  or  three  quite  different 
prints." 

"  Well,  where  do  they  lead  to?  "  said  practical 
Marjorie. 


22  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  That's  so.  Let's  trace  them  and  get  the  wood 
back." 

But  after  leading  away  from  them  for  a  short 
distance  the  footprints  became  fainter,  and  in  a 
softer  bit  of  sand  disappeared  altogether. 

"  Pshaw !  "  said  King.  "  I  don't  so  much  care 
about  the  wood,  but  I  hate  to  lose  the  trail  like 
this.  Let's  hunt,  Mopsy." 

"  All  right,  but  first,  let's  bury  these  apples 
and  potatoes,  or  they'll  be  stolen,  too." 

"  Good  idea !  "  And  they  buried  their  treasures 
in  the  nice,  clean  sand,  and  marked  the  place  with 
an  inconspicuous  stick. 

Then  they  set  out  to  hunt  their  lost  wood.  The 
beach,  though  flat  and  shelving  at  the  water's 
edge,  rose  in  a  low  bluff  farther  back,  and  this 
offered  among  its  irregular  projections  many  good 
hiding-places  for  their  quarry. 

And,  sure  enough,  after  some  searching,  they 
came  suddenly  upon  three  boys  who  sat,  shaking 
with  laughter,  upon  a  pile  of  wood. 

The  two  Maynards  glared  at  them  rather 
angrily,  upon  which  the  three  again  went  off  in 
peals  of  laughter. 

"  That's  our  wood !  "  began  King,  aggressively. 

"  Sure  it  is !  "  returned  the  biggest  boy,  still 
chuckling. 

"  What  did  you  bring  it  over  here  for?  " 


TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY  23 

"Just  for  fun!" 

"  H'm,  just  for  fun!  And  do  you  think  it 
would  be  fun  to  carry  it  back  again?  " 

"Yep;  just's  lieve  as  not.  Come  on,  kids!" 
And  that  remarkable  boy  began  to  pick  up  the 
sticks. 

"  Oh,  hold  on,"  said  King.  "  If  you're  so  will- 
ing, you  needn't  do  it!  Who  are  you,  anyway?  " 

"  Well,"  said  the  biggest  boy,  suddenly  straight- 
ening himself  up  and  bowing  politely  to  Mar- 
jorie,  "  we're  your  neighbors.  We  live  in  that 
green  house  next  to  yours.  And  we're  named 
Tom,  Dick,  and  Harry.  Yes,  I  know  you  think 
those  names  sound  funny,  but  they're  ours  all 
the  same.  Thomas,  Richard,  and  Henry  Craig, — 
at  your  service!  I'm  Tom.  This  is  Dick,  and 
this  is  Harry." 

He  whacked  his  brothers  on  the  shoulder  as 
he  named  them,  and  they  ducked  forward  in  polite, 
if  awkward  salutation. 

"And  did  you  really  take  our  wood?"  said 
Marjorie,  with  an  accusing  glance,  as  if  surprised 
that  such  pleasant-spoken  boys  could  do  such  a 
thing. 

"  Yes,  we  did.  We  wanted  to  see  what  sort  of 
stuff  you  were  made  of.  You  know  Seacote  peo- 
ple are  sort  of  like  one  big  family,  and  we  wanted 
to  know  how  you'd  behave  about  the  wood. 


24  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

You've  been  fine,  and  now  we'll  cart  it  back  where 
we  found  it.  If  you  had  got  mad  about  it,  we 
wouldn't  touch  a  stick  to  take  it  back, — would 
we,  fellows  ?  " 

"  Nope,"  said  the  other  two,  and  the  Maynards 
could  see  at  once  that  Tom  was  the  captain  and 
ringleader  of  the  trio. 

"  Well,"  said  King,  judicially,  "  if  you  hadn't 
been  the  sort  you  are,  I  should  have  got  mad. 
But  I  guess  you're  all  right,  and  so  you  may 
take  it  back.  But  we  don't  help  you  do  it, — see? 
I'm  Kingdon  Maynard,  and  this  is  my  sister  Mar- 
jorie.  You  fellows  took  our  wood,  and  now  you're 
going  to  return  it.  Is  that  right?  " 

"  Right-o !  "   said  Tom.     "  Come   on,  fellows." 

The  three  boys  flew  at  it,  and  King  and  Midget 
sat  on  the  sand  and  watched  them  till  the  wood 
was  restored  to  its  original  position. 

"All  right,"  said  King;  "you  boys'll  do. 
Now,  come  on  and  roast  potatoes  with  us." 

Thus,  all  demands  of  honor  having  been  com- 
plied with,  the  five  proceeded  to  become  friends. 
The  boys  built  the  fire,  and  gallantly  let  Mar- 
jorie  have  the  fun  of  putting  the  potatoes  and 
apples  in  place. 

The  Craig  boys  had  nice  instincts,  and  while 
they  were  rather  rough-and-tumble  among  them- 
selves, they  treated  King  more  decorously,  and 


TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY  25 

seemed  to  consider  Marjorie  as  a  being  of  a  higher 
order,  made  to  receive  not  only  respect,  but  rev- 
erent homage. 

"  You  see,  we  never  had  a  sister,"  said  Tom ; 
"  and  we're  a  little  bit  scared  of  girls." 

"  Well,  I  have  three,"  said  King,  "  so  you  see 
I  haven't  such  deep  awe  of  them.  But  Midget 
won't  hurt  you,  so  don't  be  too  scared  of  her." 

Marjorie  smiled  in  most  friendly  fashion,  for 
she  liked  these  boys,  and  especially  Tom. 

"  How  old  are  you  ?  "  she  asked  him,  in  her 
frank,  pleasant  way. 

"  I'm  fourteen,"  replied  Tom,  "  and  the  other 
kids  are  twelve  and  ten." 

"  King's  fourteen, — 'most  fifteen,"  said  Mid- 
get ;  "  and  I'll  be  thirteen  in  July.  So  we're  all 
in  the  same  years.  I  wish  our  Kitty  was  here. 
She's  nearly  eleven,  but  she  isn't  any  bigger  than 
Harry." 

Harry  smiled  shyly,  and  poked  at  the  potatoes 
with  a  stick,  not  knowing  quite  what  to  say. 

"  You  see,"  King  explained,  "  Midget  is  the 
best  sort  of  a  girl  there  is.  She's  girly,  all  right, 
and  yet  she's  as  good  as  a  boy  at  cutting  up  jinks 
or  doing  any  old  kind  of  stunts." 

The  three  Craigs  looked  at  Marjorie  in  speech- 
less admiration. 

"  I  never  knew  that  kind,"  said  Tom,  thought- 


26  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

fully.  "  You  see,  we  go  to  a  boys'  school,  and 
we  haven't  any  girl  cousins,  or  anything ;  and  the 
only  girls  I  ever  see  are  at  dancing  class,  or  in  a 
summer  hotel,  and  then  they're  all  frilled  up,  and 
sort  of  airy." 

"  I  love  to  play  with  boys,"  said  Marjorie, 
frankly,  "  and  I  guess  we'll  have  a  lot  of  fun  this 
summer." 

"  I  guess  we  will!  Are  you  going  to  stay  all 
summer?  " 

"  Yes,  till  September,  when  school  begins." 

"  So  are  we.  Isn't  it  funny  we  live  next  door 
to  each  other?  " 

"Awful  funny,"  agreed  Marjorie,  pulling  a 
very  black  potato  out  of  the  red-hot  embers. 
"  This  is  done,"  she  went  on,  "  and  I'm  going  to 
eat  it." 

"  So  say  we  all  of  us,"  cried  King.  "  One  done, 
— all  done!  Help  yourselves,  boys!" 

So  they  all  pulled  out  the  black,  sooty  potatoes, 
with  more  delighted  anticipations  than  would  have 
been  roused  by  the  daintiest  dish  served  at  a 
table. 

"Ow!"  cried  Marjorie,  flinging  down  her 
potato,  and  sticking  her  finger  in  her  mouth. 
"  Ow !  that  old  thing  popped  open,  and  burned 
me  a\*  fully !  " 

'  Too  bad,  Mops ! "  said  King,  with  genuine 


TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY  27 

sympathy,  but  the  Craig  boys  were  more  solici- 
tous. 

"  Oh,  oh !  I'm  so  sorry,"  cried  Tom.  "  Does 
it  hurt  terribly?  " 

"  Yes,  it  does,"  said  Midget,  who  was  not  in 
the  habit  of  complaining  when  she  got  hurt,  but 
who  was  really  suffering  from  the  sudden  burn. 

"  Let  me  tie  it  up,"  said  Dick,  shyly. 

"  Yes,  do,"  said  Tom.  "  Dick  is  our  good  boy. 
He  always  helps  everybody  else." 

"  But  what  can  we  tie  it  up  with  ?  "  said  Mar- 
jorie.  "  My  handkerchief  is  all  black  from  wip- 
ing off  that  potato." 

"  I, — I've  got  a  clean  one,"  and  Dick,  blushing 
with  embarrassment,  took  a  neatly  folded  white 
square  from  his  pocket. 

"Would  you  look  at  that!"  said  Tom.  "I 
declare  Dicky  always  has  the  right  thing  at  the 
right  time!  Good  for  you,  boy!  Fix  her  up." 

Quite  deftly  Dick  wrapped  the  handkerchief 
round  Marjorie's  finger,  and  secured  it  with  a 
bit  of  string  from  another  pocket. 

"  You  ought  to  have  something  on  it,"  he  said, 
gravely.  "  Kerosene  is  good,  but  as  we  haven't 
any,  it  will  help  it  just  to  keep  the  air  away 
from  it,  till  you  go  home." 

"  Goodness  !  "  exclaimed  Midget.  "  You  talk 
like  a  doctor." 


«B  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

**  Fm  going  to  be  a  doctor  when  I  grow  up,w 
said  Dick. 

**  He  is,"  volunteered  Harry ;  "  he  cured  the 
cat's  broken  leg,  and  he  mended  a  bird's  wing 


"  Yes,  I  did,"  admitted  Dick,  modestly  blushing 
at  his  achievements.  "  Are  you  going  right  home 
because  of  your  finger?  " 

"No,  indeed!  We  never  stop  for  hurts  and 
things,  unless  they're  bad  enough  for  us  to  go 
to  bed.  Give  me  another  potato,  and  you  open 
it  for  me,  won't  you,  Dick?  " 

"Yep,"  and  Marjorie  was  immediately  supplied 
with  the  best  of  the  potatoes  and  apples,  carefully 
prepared  for  her  use. 

"Aren't  there  any  other  girls  in  Seacote?  "  she 
inquired. 

**  There's  Hester  Corey,"  answered  Tom ;  "  but 
-we  don't  know  her  very  well.  She  isn't  nice,  like 
you  are.  And  I  don't  know  of  any  others,  though 
there  may  be  some.  Most  of  the  people  in  the  cot- 
tages haven't  any  children, — or  else  they're  grown 
ap, — big  girls  and  young  ladies.  And  there's  a 
few  little  babies,  but  not  many  of  our  age.  So 
that's  why  we're  so  glad  you  came." 

**  And  that's  why  you  stole  our  wood ! " 

"*Yes,  truly.  We  thought  that'd  be  a  good 
"*wy  to  test  jour  temper." 


TOM,  DICK,  AND  HARRY  2» 

"  It  was  a  risky  way,"  said  King,  thinking  ft 
over. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  I  knew,  if  you  were  the 
right  sort,  you'd  take  it  all  right;  and  if  you 
weren't  the  right  sort,  we  didn't  care  how 
took  it." 

"  That's  so,"  agreed  Mar j  one. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  SAND  CLUB 

LIFE  at  Seacote  soon  settled  down  to  its  groove, 
and  it  was  a  very  pleasant  groove.  There  was 
always  plenty  of  fun  to  be  had.  Bathing  every 
day  in  the  crashing  breakers,  digging  in  the  sand, 
building  beach  fires,  talking  to  the  old  fishermen, 
were  all  delightful  pursuits.  And  then  there  were 
long  motor  rides  inland,  basket  picnics  in  pine 
groves,  and  excursions  to  nearby  watering-places. 

The  Craig  boys  turned  out  to  be  jolly  play- 
fellows, and  they  and  the  Maynards  became  in- 
separable chums.  Marjorie  often  wished  one  of 
them  had  been  a  girl,  but  at  the  same  time,  she 
enjoyed  her  unique  position  of  being  the  only 
girl  in  the  crowd.  The  boys  deferred  to  her  as 
to  a  princess,  and  she  ruled  them  absolutely. 

Of  course  the  senior  Craigs  and  Maynards  be- 
came good  friends  also,  and  the  two  ladies  espe- 
cially spent  many  pleasant  hours  together. 

Baby  Rosamond  rarely  played  with  the  older 

children,   as   she  was   too  little   to   join   in   their 

vigorous   games,   often    original   with  themselves, 

And   decidedly   energetic.      The   beach   was    their 

30 


THE  SAND  CLUB  31 

favorite  playground.  They  never  tired  of  dig- 
ging in  the  sand,  and  they  had  a  multitude  of 
spades  and  shovels  and  hoes  for  their  various  sand 
performances.  Some  days  they  built  a  fort,  other 
days  a  castle  or  a  pleasure  ground.  Their  sand- 
works  were  extensive  and  elaborate,  and  it  often 
seemed  a  pity  that  the  tide  or  the  wind  should 
destroy  them  over  night. 

"  I  say,  let's  us  be  a  Sand  Club,"  said  Tom  one 
day.  "  We're  always  playing  in  the  sand,  you 
know." 

"  All  right,"  said  Marjorie,  instantly  seeing  de- 
lightful possibilities.  "  We'll  call  ourselves  Sand 
Crabs,  for  we're  always  scrambling  through  the 
sand." 

"And  we're  jolly  as  sandboys!"  said  King. 
"  I  don't  know  what  sandboys  really  are,  but 
they're  always  jolly,  and  so  are  we." 

"  I'd  like  something  more  gay  and  festive," 
Marjorie  put  in;  "I  mean  like  Court  Life,  or 
something  where  we  could  dress  up,  and  pretend 
things." 

"  I  know  what  you  mean,"  said  Dick,  grasping 
her  idea.  "  Let's  have  Sand  Court,  and  build  a 
court  and  a  throne,  and  we'll  all  be  royal  people 
and  Marjorie  can  be  queen." 

"  Well,  let's  all  have  sandy  names,"  suggested 
Tom.  "  Marjorie  can  be  Queen  Sandy.  And 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

call  our  court  Sandringham  Palace.  You 
looow  there  is  one,  really." 

**You  can  be  the  Grand  Sandjandrum!  "  said 
King,  laughing. 

**  No,  you  be  that,"  said  Tom,  unselfishly. 

**No,  sir;  you've  got  to.  I'll  be  a  sand  piper, 
and  play  the  court  anthems." 

**  All  right,"  said  Marjorie,  "  and  Harry  can 
IK  a  sand  crab,  for  he  just  scuttles  through  the 
sand  all  the  time.  What'll  Dick  be?  " 

King  looked  at  Dick.  "We'll  call  him  San- 
«lcw,"  he  suggested,  and  they  all  laughed,  for 
Dick  was  a  frail  little  chap,  without  much  mus- 
«alar  strength.  But  the  name  stuck  to  him,  and 
they  always  called  him  Sandow  thereafter. 

**  I  wish  we  could  make  our  palace  where  it 
would  stay  made,"  said  Marjorie.  "  We  don't 
*want  to  make  a  new  one  every  day." 

"That's  so,"  said  Tom.  "If  we  only  could 
find  a  secret  haunt." 

"  I  know  a  kind  of  a  one,"  said  Dick ;  "  'way 
back  in  our  yard,  near  where  it  joins  yours, 
is  a  deepy  kind  of  a  place,  and  it's  quite 


*"Just  the  thing!"  cried  Marjorie.  "I  know 
that  place.  Come  on  !  " 

She  was  off  like  a  deer,  and  the  rest  followed. 
JL  few  moments'  scamper  brought  them  to  the 


THE  SAND  CLUB 

place,  and  all  declared  it  was  just  the  verj 
for  a  palace. 

"  I'd  like  beach  sand  better,  though,"  said  Mar- 
jorie. 

"  We'll  bring  all  you  want,"  declared  TOOL. 
"  We'll  take  a  wheelbarrow,  and  bring  heaps  up> 
from  the  beach." 

The  Sand  Club  worked  for  days  getting  thebr 
palace  in  order.  The  two  big  boys  wheeled  many 
loads  of  sand  up  from  the  beach,  and  Marjorie 
and  the  two  other  boys  arranged  it  in  shape. 

Dick  was  clever  at  building,  and  he  planned  * 
number  of  fine  effects.  Of  course,  their  palace 
had  no  roof  or  walls,  but  the  apartments  we*e 
partitioned  off  with  low  walls  of  sand,  and  there 
were  sand  sofas  and  chairs,  and  a  gorgeous  throne*. 

The  throne  was  a  heap  of  sand,  surmounted 
by  a  legless  armchair,  found  in  the  Craigs'  attic*, 
and  at  court  meetings  draped  with  pink  cheese- 
cloth and  garlands  of  flowers.  The  whole  palace 
was  really  a  "  secret  haunt,"  for  a  slight  rise  of 
ground  screened  it  from  view  on  two  sides  awl 
trees  shaded  the  other  side. 

The  parents  of  both  families  were  pleased  witk 
the  whole  scheme,  for  it  kept  the  children  occupied^ 
and  they  could  always  be  found  at  a  moment's, 
notice. 

Sand  tables  were  built,  and  on  them  were  bits. 


34  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

of  old  dishes  and  broken  vases,  all  of  which  were 
desirable  because  they  could  stay  out  in  the  rain 
and  not  be  harmed.  Moreover,  they  were  handy 
in  case  of  a  feast.  At  last  preparations  were 
complete  and  they  decided  to  open  the  court  next 
day. 

"We  must  have  a  flag,"  said  Marjorie.  "I'll 
make  it.  The  court  colors  are  red  and  yellow, 
and  our  emblem  will  be, — what  shall  our  emblem 
be?" 

"  A  pail  of  sand,"  suggested  Tom. 

"  Yes ;  I  can  cut  out  a  pail  of  red  flannel,  and 
sew  it  on  to  a  yellow  flag.  I'll  make  that  this 
afternoon,  and  we'll  hold  court  to-morrow  morn- 
ing at  ten  o'clock.  We  must  all  wear  some  red 
and  yellow.  Sashes  will  do  for  you  boys,  and  I'll 
have, — well,  I'll  fix  up  a  rig  of  some  kind." 

Marjorie  was  a  diligent  little  worker  when  she 
chose  to  be,  and  that  afternoon  she  made  a  very 
creditable  flag,  showing  a  pail,  red;  on  a  field, 
yellow.  She  made  also  sashes  for  them  all,  of 
red  and  yellow  cheesecloth,  and  she  made  herself 
a  court  train  of  the  same  material,  which  trailed 
grandly  from  her  shoulders. 

Next  morning  the  Sand  Club  assembled  on  the 
Maynards'  veranda,  to  march  to  Sandringham 
Palace. 

Mrs.  Craig  had  helped  out  the  costumes  of  her 


THE  SAND  CLUB  35 

royal  children,  and  the  Grand  Sandjandrum  was 
gorgeous  in  a  voluminous  yellow  turban,  with  a 
red  cockade  sticking  up  on  one  side. 

Sandow  and  the  Sand  Crab  had  soldier  hats 
made  of  red  and  yellow  paper,  and  big  sailor 
collars  of  the  same  colors. 

The  Sand  Piper  wore  his  sash  jauntily  with 
a  huge  shoulder  knot,  and  he,  too,  had  a  cockaded 
headgear. 

Marjorie,  as  Queen  Sandy,  wore  her  trailing 
court  robe  and  a  crown  of  yellow  paper  with  red 
stars  on  it.  She  had  a  sceptre,  and  Sandow 
carried  the  flag. 

The  Sand  Piper  marched  ahead,  playing  on  a 
tuneful  instrument  known  as  a  kazoo.  Next  came 
the  Grand  Sandjandrum,  then  the  Queen,  then  the 
Sand  Crab,  and  finally,  Sandow  with  the  flag. 

Slowly  and  with  great  dignity  the  procession 
filed  out  toward  the  palace.  King  was  playing  the 
Star  Spangled  Banner,  or  thought  he  was.  It 
sounded  almost  as  much  like  Hail  Columbia, — but 
it  didn't  really  matter,  and  they're  both  difficult 
tunes,  anyway. 

Blithely  they  stepped  along,  and  prepared  to 
enter  the  palace  with  a  flourish  of  trumpets,  as 
it  were,  when  King's  music  stopped  suddenly. 

"  Great  Golliwogs !  "  he  cried.  "  Look  at 
that!" 


36  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Look  at  what?  "  said  Tom,  who  was  absorbed 
in  the  grand  march. 

But  he  looked,  and  they  all  looked,  and  five 
angry  exclamations  sounded  as  they  saw  only  the 
ruins  of  the  beloved  Sandringham  Palace. 

Somebody  had  utterly  demolished  it.  The  low 
walls  were  broken  and  scattered,  the  sand  tables 
and  chairs  were  torn  down,  and  the  throne  was 
entirely  upset. 

"Who  did  this?"  roared  Tom. 

But  as  nobody  knew  the  answer,  there  was  no 
reply. 

"  It  couldn't  have  been  any  of  your  servants, 
could  it?"  asked  King  of  the  Craigs.  "I  know 
it  wasn't  any  of  ours." 

"  No ;  it  wasn't  ours,  either,"  said  Tom. 
"  Could  it  have  been  your  little  sister  ?  " 

"Mercy,  no!"  cried  Marjorie.  "Rosy  Posy 
isn't  that  sort  of  a  child.  Oh,  I  do  think  it's 
awful !  "  and  forgetting  her  royal  dignity,  Queen 
Sandy  began  to  cry. 

"  Why,  Mops,"  said  King,  kindly ;  "  brace  up, 
old  girl.  Don't  cry." 

"  I'm  not  a  cry  baby,"  said  Midget,  smiling 
through  her  tears.  "  I'm  just  crying  'cause  I'm 
so  mad!  I'm  mad  clear  through!  How  could 
anybody  be  so  ugly  ?  " 

"  I'm  mad,  too,"  declared  Tom,  slowly,  "  but 


THE  SAND  CLUB  37 

I  know  who  did  it,  and  it's  partly  my  fault,  I 
s'pose." 

"Your  fault!"  exclaimed  Midget.  "Why, 
Tom,  how  can  it  be?  " 

"  Well,  you  see  it  was  this  way.  Yesterday 
afternoon  Mrs.  Corey  came  to  call  on  my  mother, 
and  she  brought  Hester  with  her." 

"  That  red-headed  girl?  " 

"  Yes ;  and  she  has  a  temper  to  match  her  hair! 
Mother  made  me  talk  to  her,  and,  as  I  didn't  know 
what  else  to  talk  about,  I  told  her  about  our 
Sand  Club,  and  about  the  Court  to-day  and 
everything.  And  she  wanted  to  belong  to  the 
club,  and  I  told  her  she  couldn't,  because  it  was 
just  the  Maynards  and  the  Craigs.  And  she  was 
madder'n  hops,  and  she  coaxed  me,  and  I  still  said 
no,  and  then  she  said  she'd  get  even  with  us  some- 
how." 

"  But,  Tom,"  said  King,  "  we  don't  know  that 
girl  to  speak  to.  We  hardly  know  her  by  sight." 

"  But  we  do.  We  knew  her  when  we  were  here 
last  summer,  but,  you  see,  this  year  we've  had  yon 
two  to  play  with,  so  we've  sort  of  neglected  her, — 
and  she  doesn't  like  it." 

"  But  that's  no  reason  she  should  spoil  our 
palace,"  and  Marjorie  looked  sadly  at  the  scene 
of  ruin  and  destruction. 

"  No ;  and  of  course  I'm  not  sure  that  she  did 


38  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

do  it.  But  she  said  she'd  do  something  to  get 
even  with  you." 

"  With  me?    Why,  she  doesn't  know  me  at  all." 

"  That's  what  she's  mad  about.  She  says 
you're  stuck  up,  and  you  put  on  airs  and  never 
look  at  her." 

"  Why,  how  silly !  I  don't  know  her,  but  some- 
how, from  her  looks,  I  know  I  shouldn't  like  her." 

"  No,  you  wouldn't,  Marjorie.  She's  selfish, 
and  she's  ill-tempered.  She  flies  into  a  rage  at 
any  little  thing,  and, — well,  she  isn't  a  bit  like 
you  Maynards." 

"  No!  and  I'm  glad  of  it  I  I  wouldn't  want  to 
be  like  such  a  stuck-up  thing !  " 

These  last  words  were  spoken  by  a  strange  voice, 
and  Marjorie  looked  round  quickly  to  see  a  shock 
of  red  hair  surmounting  a  very  angry  little  face 
just  appearing  from  behind  the  small  hill,  beneath 
whose  overhanging  shadow  they  had  built  their 
palace. 

"  Why,  Hester  Corey !  "  shouted  Tom.  "  What 
are  you  doing  here?  " 

"  I  came  to  see  how  you  like  your  old  sand- 
house  !  "  she  jeered,  mockingly,  and  making  faces 
at  Marjorie  between  her  words.  Marjorie  was 
utterly  astonished.  It  was  her  first  experience 
with  a  child  of  this  type,  and  she  didn't  know 
just  how  to  take  her. 


' 


THE  SAND  CLUB  39 

The  newcomer  was  a  little  termagant.  Her 
big  blue  eyes  seemed  to  flash  with  anger,  and  as 
she  danced  about,  shaking  her  fist  at  Marjorie 
and  pointing  her  forefinger  at  her,  she  cried, 
tauntingly,  "  Stuck  up  !  Proudy !  " 

Marjorie  grew  indignant.  She  had  done  noth- 
ing knowingly  to  provoke  this  wrath,  so  she  faced 
the  visitor  squarely,  and  glared  back  at  her. 

"  I'd  rather  be  stuck  up  than  to  be  such  a 
spiteful  thing  as  you  are !  "  she  declared.  "  Did 
you  tear  down  this  palace  that  we  took  such 
trouble  to  build?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did !  "  said  Hester.  "  And  if  you  build 
it  again,  I'll  tear  it  down  again, — so,  there, 
now !  " 

"  You'll  do  no  such  thing !  "  shouted  Tom. 

"  Huh,  Smarty !  What  have  you  got  to  say 
about  it?  " 

The  crazy  little  Hester  flew  at  Tom  and 
pounded  him  vigorously  on  the  back. 

"  I  hate  you !  "  she  cried.     "  I  hate  you !  " 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  her  little  fists  couldn't 
hurt  the  big,  sturdy  boy,  but  her  intense  anger 
made  him  angry  too. 

"  You,  Hester  Corey !  "  he  cried.  "  You  leave 
me  alone !  " 

King  stood  a  little  apart,  with  his  hands  in  his 
pockets,  looking  at  the  combatants. 


40 

"  Say,  we've  had  about  enough  of  this,"  he  said, 
speaking  quietly,  and  without  excitement.  "  We 
Maynards  are  not  accustomed  to  this  sort  of 
thing.  We  squabble  sometimes,  but  we  never  get 
really  angry." 

"  Goody-goody  boy !  "  said  Hester,  sneeringly, 
and  making  one  of  her  worst  faces  at  him.  For 
some  reason  this  performance  struck  King  as 
funny. 

"  Do  it  again,"  he  said.  "  How  do  you  ever 
squink  up  your  nose  like  that !  Bet  you  can't  do 
it  three  times  in  succession." 

The  audacious  Hester  tried  it,  and  the  result 
was  so  ludicrous  they  all  laughed. 

"  Now  look  here,"  went  on  King,  "  we're  not 
acquainted  with  you,  but  we  know  you're  Hester 
Corey.  We  know  you  spoiled  our  Sand  Palace, 
just  out  of  angry  spite.  Now,  Hester  Corey, 
you've  got  to  be  punished  for  that.  We're  peace- 
able people  ourselves,  but  we're  just,  also.  We 
were  about  to  have  a  nice  celebration,  but  you've 
put  an  end  to  that  before  it  began.  So,  instead, 
we're  going  to  have  a  trial.  You're  the  prisoner, 
and  you've  pleaded  guilty, — at  least,  you've  con- 
fessed your  crime.  Queen  Sandy,  get  into  that 
throne, — never  mind  if  it  is  upset, — set  it  up 
again.  Grand  Sandjandrum,  take  your  place  on 
that  mussed  up  sand  heap.  You  two  other  chaps, 


THE  SAND  CLUB  41 

— stand  one  each  side  of  the  prisoner  as  sentinels. 
I'll  conduct  this  case,  and  Queen  Sandj  will  pro- 
nounce the  sentence.  It's  us  Maynards  that  Hes- 
ter Corey  seems  to  have  a  grudge  against,  so  it's 
up  to  us  Maynards  to  take  charge  of  the  case. 
Prisoner,  stand  on  that  board  there." 

"  I  won't  do  it !  "  snapped  Hester,  and  the  red 
locks  shook  vigorously. 

"  You  will  do  it,"  said  King,  quietly,  and  for 
some  reason  or  other  Hester  quailed  before  his 
glance,  and  then  meekly  stood  where  he  told 
her  to. 

"  Have  you  anything  to  say  for  yourself? " 
King  went  on.  "  Any  excuse  to  offer  for  such  a 
mean,  hateful  piece  of  work  ?  " 

Hester  sulked  a  minute,  then  she  said: 

"  Yes,  I  was  mad  at  you,  because  you  all 
have  such  good  times,  and  wouldn't  let  me  in 
them." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  You  never 
.asked  to  come  in." 

"  I  did.  I  asked  Tom  Craig  yesterday,  and  he 
•wouldn't  ask  you." 

"  Then  why  are  you  mad  at  us  ?  " 

"  Because  you're  so  proud  and  exclusive.  You 
think  yourselves  so  great;  you  think  nobody's  as 
good  as  you  are !  " 

"  That   isn't   true,   Hester,"   said   King,   quite 


42  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

gently ;  "  and  even  if  it  were,  are  you  proving 
yourself  better  than  we  are  by  cutting  up  this 
mean,  babyish  trick?  If  you  want  us  to  like  you, 
why  not  make  yourself  likeable,  instead  of  horrid 
and  hateful?" 

This  was  a  new  idea  to  Hester,  and  she  stared 
at  King  as  if  greatly  interested. 

"  That's  right,"  he  went  on.  "  If  people  want 
people  to  like  them,  they  must  be  likeable.  They 
must  be  obliging  and  kind  and  pleasant,  and  not 
small  and  spiteful." 

"  You  haven't  been  very  nice  to  me,"  muttered 
Hester. 

"  We  haven't  had  a  chance.  And  before  we 
get  a  chance  you  upset  everything  by  making  us 
dislike  you!  What  kind  of  common  sense  is 
that?" 

"  Maybe  you  could  forgive  me,"  suggested  Hes- 
ter, hopefully. 

"  Maybe  we  could,  later  on.  But  we're  for 
fair  play,  and  you  treated  us  unfairly.  So  now, 
you've  got  to  be  punished.  Queen  Sandy,  Grand 
Sandjandrum,  which  of  you  can  suggest  proper 
punishment  for  this  prisoner  of  ours  ?  " 

Tom  thought  for  a  moment,  then  he  said: 

"  Seems  's  if  she  ought  to  put  this  palace  back 
in  order,  just  as  it  was  when  she  found  it, — but 
that's  too  hard  work  for  a  girl." 


THE  SAND  CLUB  4S 

"  I'll  help  her,"  said  Harry,  earnestly.  "  I'm 
sorry  for  her." 

"  Sorry  for  her !  "  cried  Tom,  with  blazing  eyes. 
"  Sorry  for  the  girl  that  spoiled  our  palace !  " 

"  Well,  you  see,"  went  on  Harry,  "  she's  sorry 
herself  now." 


SAND  COURT 

'WiTH  one  accord,  they  all  looked  at  Hester.     Sure 

.enough,   it  was   easily   to   be   seen   that   she   was 

.sorry.     All  her  anger  and  rage  had  vanished,  and 

she   stood   digging   one    toe   into    the    sand,    and 

twisting  from  side  to  side,  with  her  eyes  cast  down, 

and  two  big  tears  rolling  slowly  down  her  cheeks. 

Marjorie  sprang  up  from  her  wabbly  throne, 
and  running  to  Hester,  threw  her  arms  round  her. 
her. 

"  Don't  cry,  Hester,"  she  said.  "  We'll  all  for- 
give you.  I  think  you  lost  your  temper  and  I 
think  you're  sorry  now,  aren't  you?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  yes,  I  am !  "  sobbed  Hester.  "  But 
I  envied  the  good  times  you  had,  and  when  Tom 
wouldn't  let  me  into  your  club,  I  got  so  mad  I 
didn't  know  what  to  do." 

"  There,  there,  don't  cry  any  more,"  and  Mid- 
get smoothed  the  tangled  red  mop,  and  tried  to 
comfort  the  bad  little  Hester. 

Tom  looked  rather  disappointed. 

"  I  say,"  he  began,  "  she  did  an  awful  mean 

-.thing,  and  she  ought  to  be " 

44 


SAND  COURT  45 

"  Hold  on  a  minute,  Tom,"  said  Marjorie. 
"  I'm  Queen  of  this  club,  and  what  I  say  goes !  Is 
that  right,  my  courtiers  ?  " 

She  looked  round  at  the  boys,  smiling  in  a 
wheedlesome  way,  and  King  said,  "  Right,  O 
Queen  Sandy!  Right  always  and  ever,  in  the 
hearts  of  your  gentlemen-in-waiting." 

"  You  bet  you  are !  "  cried  Tom,  quick  to  follow 
King's  lead.  "  Our  noble  Queen  has  but  to  say 
the  word,  and  it  is  our  law.  Therefore,  O  Queen, 
we  beg  thee  to  mete  out  a  just  punishment  to  this 
prisoner  within  our  gates." 

"  Hear  ye !  Hear  ye !  "  said  Midget,  with  great 
dramatic  fervor.  "  I  hereby  forgive  this  prisoner 
of  ours,  because  she's  truly  sorry  she  acted  like 
the  dickens.  And  as  a  punishment,  I  condemn 
her  to  rebuild  this  royal  palace,  but,  following 
Harry's  example,  we  will  all  help  her  with  the 
work." 

Then  King  burst  forth  into  song: 

"  Hooray,  Hooray,  for  our  noble  Queen, 
The  very  best  monarch  that  ever  was  seen. 
There's  nobody  quite  so  perfectly  dandy, 
As  our  most  gracious,  most  noble  Queen  Sandy!" 

They  all  repeated  this  chorus,  and  the  Queen 
bowed  and  smiled  at  her  devoted  court. 

"  And  also,"  her  Royal  Highness  went  on,  "  we 


46  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

hereby  take  into  our  club  Miss  Hester  Corey  as 
A  new  member.  I'm  glad  to  have  another  girl  in 
it, — and  what  I  say  goes !  " 

This  time  Tom  made  up  the  song: 

"  What  she  says,  goes ! 
She's  sweet  as  a  rose, 
From   head   to  toes, 
So  what  she  says,  goes ! " 

"  Miss  Hester  Corey  is  now  a  member,"  said 
Midget,  "  and  her  name  is, — is " 

"  Sand  Witch,"  suggested  Tom. 

"  Yes,"  said  King ;  "  you  expect  witches  to  cut 
up  tricks." 

"All  right,"  said  Hester.  "Call  me  Sand 
Witch,  and  you'll  see  there  are  good  witches  as 
well  as  bad." 

"  Come  on,  then,"  said  Marjorie,  "  and  show 
us  how  you  can  work.  Let's  put  this  palace 
back  into  shape  again  as  quick  as  scat !  " 

They  all  fell  to  work,  and  it  didn't  take  so  very 
long  after  all.  Hester  was  conquered  by  the 
power  of  Marjorie's  kindness,  and  she  was  meek 
as  a  lamb.  She  did  whatever  she  was  told,  and 
was  a  quick  and  willing  worker. 

"  Now,"  said  Midget,  after  it  was  all  in  order 
once  more,  "  now  we'll  have  our  celebration.  You 
§ee,  we  have  six  in  our  court  now,  instead  of  five, 


SAND  COURT  47 

and  I  think  it's  nicer.  I'll  give  the  Sand  Witch 
my  sash  to  wear,  and  she  can  be  my  first  lady-in- 
waiting." 

This  position  greatly  pleased  Hester,  and  she 
took  her  place  at  the  side  of  the  enthroned  Queen, 
while  Tom  stood  at  her  other  side.  King  played 
a  grand  tune,  and  they  all  sang. 

The  song  was  in  honor  of  the  flag-raising,  and 
was  hastily  composed  by  Marjorie  for  the  occa- 
sion: 

"Our  Flag,  our  Flag,  our  Sand  Club  Flag! 
Long  may  she  wave,  long  may  she  wag! 
And  may  our  Sand  Club  ever  stand 
A  glory  to  our  Native  Land." 

Tom  persisted  in  singing  "  a  glory  to  our  na- 
tive sand,"  and  King  said  strand,  but  after  all,- 
it  didn't  matter. 

Then  Sandow,  bearing  the  flag,  stepped  gravely 
forward,  and  the  boys  all  helped  to  plant  it  firmly 
in  the  middle  of  Sand  Court,  while  the  Queen  and 
her  lady-in-waiting  nodded  approval. 

"  Ha,  Courtiers !  I  prithee  sit ! "  the  Queen1 
commanded,  when  the  flag  was  gaily  waving  in  the 
breeze. 

Her  four  courtiers  promptly  sat  on  the  ground 
at  her  feet,  and  the  Queen  addressed  them  thus : 

"  Gentlemen-in-waiting  of  Sandringham  Palace;,. 


48  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

there  are  much  affairs  of  state  now  before  us. 
First  must  we  form  our  club,  our  Sand  Club." 

"  Most  noble  Queen,"  and  Tom  rose  to  his  feet, 
"  have  I  your  permission  to  speak?  " 

"  Speak ! "  said  the  Queen,  graciously,  waving 
her  sceptre  at  him. 

"  Then  I  rise  to  inquire  if  this  is  a  secret 
organization." 

"  You  bet  it  is ! "  cried  King,  jumping  up. 
"  The  very  secretest  ever !  If  any  one  lets  out 
the  secrets  of  these  secret  meetings,  he  shall  be 
excommunicated  in  both  feet !  " 

"A  just  penalty!"  said  Tom,  gravely. 

"  Is  all  well,  O  fair  Queen  ?     Do  you  agree  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  agree,"  said  the  Queen,  smiling.  "  But 
I  want  to  know  what  these  secrets  are  to  be 
about." 

"  That's  future  business,"  declared  King. 
"  Just  now  we  have  to  elect  officers,  and  all 
that." 

"  All  right,"  said  Marjorie,  "  but  you  must  be 
more  courtly  about  it.  Say  it  more, — you  know 
how  I  mean." 

"  As  thus,"  spoke  up  the  lady-in-Avaiting,  drop- 
ping on  one  knee  before  the  Queen. 

"  What  is  the  gracious  will  of  your  Royal  High- 
ness in  the  matter  of  secretary  and  treasurer,  O 
Queen ! " 


SAND  COURT  49* 

"Yes,  that's  better.  Well,  my  court,  to  tell 
you  the  truth,  I  don't  think  that  we  need  a  sec- 
retary and  such  things,  because  it  isn't  a  regular 
club.  Let  us  content  ourselves  with  our  present 
noble  offices.  Grand  Sandjandrum,  what  are  the 
duties  of  thy  high  office?  " 

"  No  duties,  but  all  pleasures,  when  serving  thee,- 
O  noble  and  gracious  Queen !  " 

"  That's  fine,"  said  Midget,  clapping  her  hands. 
"  Hither,  Sir  Sand  Piper !  What  are  thy  duties 
at  court?  " 

"  Your  Majesty,"  said  King,  bowing  low,  "  it 
is  my  humble  part  to  play  the  pipes,  or  to  lay 
the  pipes,  as  the  case  may  be.  I  do  not  smoke 
pipes,  but,  if  it  be  thy  gracious  wish,  I  can  blow 
fair  soap  bubbles  from  them." 

"  Sand  Piper,  I  see  you  know  your  business," 
said  the  Queen.  "  Ha !  Sand  Crab,  what  dost  thou 
do  each  day?  " 

"  Just  scramble  around  in  the  sand,"  replied 
Harry,  and  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he 
gave  such  a  funny  scrambling  performance  that 
they  all  applauded. 

"  Right  well  done,  noble  Sand  Crab,"  commented^ 
the  smiling  Queen.  "  And  thou,  O  Sandow?  " 

"  I  do  all  the  strong-arm  work  required  in  the' 
palace,"  said  Dick,  doubling  up  his  little  fist,  and 
trying  to  make  it  look  large  and  powerful. 


50  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Now,  thee,  my  fair  lady-in-waiting,  what 
dost  thou  do  in  this,  my  court?  " 

Hester  shook  back  her  mop  of  red  curls,  and 
her  eyes  danced  as  she  answered,  gaily : 

"  I  am  the  Court  Sand  Witch !  I  cut  up  tricks 
of  all  sorts,  as  doth  become  a  witch.  Aye,  many 
a  time  will  I  cause  enchantments  to  fall  upon 
thee,  one  and  all !  I  am  a  magic  witch,  and  I  can 
cast  spells !  " 

Hester  waved  her  arms  about,  and  swayed  from 
side  to  side,  her  eyes  fixed  in  a  glassy  stare,  and 
her  red  curls  bobbing. 

"Good  gracious!"  cried  Marjorie.  "You're 
like  a  witch  I  saw  on  the  stage  once  in  a  fairy 
pantomime.  Say,  Hester,  let's  have  a  pantomime 
entertainment  some  day." 

"All  right.  My  mother'll  help  us.  She's  al- 
ways getting  up  private  theatricals  and  things 
like  that.  She  says  I  inherit  her  dramatic  talent." 

"  All  right,"  said  Tom,  warningly ;  "  but  don't 
you  turn  your  dramatic  talent  toward  tearing 
down  our  palace  again." 

"  Of  course  I  won't,  now  I'm  a  member/' 

"  Of  course  she  won't,"  agreed  Marjorie. 
"  Now,  my  courtiers,  and  lady-in-waiting,  there's 
another  subject  to  come  before  your  royal  atten- 
tion. We  must  have  a  Court  Journal." 

"What's  that?"  inquired  Harry. 


SAND  COURT  51 

"  Why,  a  sort  of  a  paper,  you  know,  with  all 
the  court  news  in  it." 

"There  isn't  any." 

"  But  there  will  be.  We're  not  fairly  started 
yet.  Now  who'll  write  this  paper?  " 

"  All  of  us,"  suggested  Tom. 

"Yes;  but  tbere  must  be  one  at  the  head  of 
it, — sort  of  editor,  you  know." 

"  Guess  it  better  be  King,"  said  Tom,  thought- 
fully. "  He  knows  the  most  about  writing 
things." 

"  All  right,"  agreed  King.  "  I'll  edit  the  paper, 
only  you  must  all  contribute.  We'll  have  it  once 
a  week,  and  everybody  must  send  me  some  con- 
tribution, if  it's  only  a  little  poem  or  some- 
thing." 

"  I  can't  write  poems,"  said  Harry,  earnestly, 
"  but  I  can  gather  up  news, — and  like  that." 

"Yes,"  said  Marjorie,  "that's  what  I  mean. 
But  it  must  be  news  about  us  court  people,  or 
maybe  our  families." 

"  Can't  we  make  it  up?  "  asked  Hester. 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  so,  if  you  make  it  real  court  like 
and  grand  sounding." 

"  What  shall  we  call  our  paper?  "  asked  King. 

"  Oh,  just  the  Court  Journal,"  replied  Midget. 

"  I  don't  think  so,"  objected  Hester.  "  I  think 
it  ought  to  have  a  name  like  The  Sand  Club" 


52  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

• 

"  The  Jolly  Sandboy,"  exclaimed  Tom.  "  How's 
that?" 

"But  two  of  us  are  girls!"  said  Marjorie. 

"  That  doesn't  matter,  it's  just  the  name  of  the 
paper,  you  know.  And  it  sounds  so  gay  and 

jolly." 

"  I  like  it,"  declared  King,  and  so  they  all 
agreed  to  the  name. 

"  Now,  my  courtiers  and  noble  friends,"  said 
their  Queen,  "  it's  time  we  all  scooted  home  to 
luncheon.  My  queen-dowager  mother  likes  me  to 
be  on  time  for  meals.  Also,  my  majesty  and  my 
royal  sand  piper  can't  come  back  to  play  this 
afternoon.  But  shall  this  court  meet  to-morrow 
morning?  " 

"You  bet,  your  Majesty!"  exclaimed  Tom, 
with  fervor. 

"  That  isn't  very  courtly  language,  my  Grand 
Sandj  andrum." 

"I  humbly  beg  your  Majesty's  pardon,  and  I 
prostrate  myself  in  humble  humility !  "  And  Tom 
sprawled  on  his  face  at  Marjorie's  feet. 

"  Rise,  Sir  Knight,"  said  the  gracious  Queen, 
and  then  the  court  dispersed  toward  its  various 
homes. 

"  Well,  we  had  the  greatest  time  this  morning 
you  ever  heard  of!"  announced  Marjorie  as, 
divested  of  her  royal  trappings  and  clad  in 


SAND  COURT  53 

a  fresh  pink  gingham,  she  sat  at  the  luncheon 
table. 

"  What  was  it  all  about,  Moppets  ?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Majnard. 

So  King  and  Marjorie  together  told  all  about 
the  intrusion  of  Hester  on  their  celebration,  and 
how  they  had  finally  taken  her  into  the  Sand 
Club  as  a  member. 

"  I  think  my  children  behaved  very  well,"  said 
Mrs.  Maynard,  looking  at  the  two  with  pride. 

"  I  did  get  sort  of  mad  at  first,  Mother,"  Mar- 
jorie confessed,  not  wanting  more  praise  than 
was  her  just  due. 

"  Well,  I  don't  blame  you !  "  declared  King. 
"  Why,  that  girl  made  most  awful  faces  at  Mops, 
and  talked  to  her  just  horrid!  If  she  hadn't 
calmed  down  afterward  we  couldn't  have  played 
with  her  at  all." 

"  I've  heard  about  that  child,"  said  Mrs.  May- 
nard. "  She  has  most  awful  fits  of  temper,  I'm 
told.  Mrs.  Craig  says  that  Hester  will  be  as 
good  and  as  sweet  as  a  lamb  for  days, — and  then 
she'll  fly  into  a  rage  over  some  little  thing.  I'm 
glad  you  children  are  not  like  that." 

"I'm  glad,  too,"  said  King.  "We're  not 
angels,  but  if  we  acted  up  like  Hester  did  at 
first  we  couldn't  live  in  the  house  with  each 
other!" 


54  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Her  mother  is  an  actress,"  observed  Marjorie. 

"  Oh,  no,  Midget,  you're  mistaken,"  said  her 
mother.  "  I  know  Mrs.  Corey,  and  she  isn't  an 
actress  at  all,  and  never  was.  But  she  is  fond  of 
amateur  theatricals,  and  she  is  president  of  a  club 
that  gives  little  plays  now  and  then." 

"  Yes,  that's  it,"  said  King.  "  Hester  said  her 
mother  had  dramatic  talent,  and  she  had  inherited 
it.  Have  you  dramatic  talent,  Mother?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  King,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard, 
laughing.  "  Your  father  and  I  have  joined  their 
dramatic  club,  but  it  remains  to  be  seen  whether 
we  can  make  a  success  of  it." 

"Oh,  Mother!"  cried  Marjorie.  "Are  you 
really  going  to  act  in  a  play?  Oh,  can  we  see 
you?" 

"  I  don't  know  yet,  Midget.  Probably  it  will 
be  an  entertainment  only  for  grown-ups.  We've 
just  begun  rehearsals." 

"Have  we  dramatic  talent,  Mother?" 

"  Not  to  any  astonishing  degree.  But,  yes,  I 
suppose  your  fondness  for  playing  at  court  life 
and  such  things  shows  a  dramatic  taste." 

"Oh,  it's  great  fun,  Mother!  I  just  love  to 
sit  on  that  throne  with  my  long  trail  wopsed  on 
the  floor  beside  me,  and  my  sceptre  sticking  up, 
and  my  courtiers  all  around  me, — oh,  Mother,  I 
think  I'd  like  to  be  a  real  queen ! " 


SAND  COURT  55 

"  Well,  you  see,  Midget,  you  were  born  in  a 
country  that  doesn't  employ  queens." 

"And  I'm  glad  of  it!"  cried  Marjorie,  patri- 
otically. "  Hooray !  for  the  land  of  the  free  and 
the  home  of  the  brave!  I  guess  I  don't  care  to 
be  a  real  queen,  I  guess  I'll  be  a  president's  wife 
instead.  Say,  Mother,  won't  you  and  Father 
write  us  some  poems  for  The  Jolly  Sandboy?  " 

"What  is  that,  Midget?" 

"Oh,  it's  our  court  journal, — and  you  and 
Father  do  write  such  lovely  poetry.  Will  you, 
Mother?" 

"  Yes,  I  'spect  so." 

"  Oh,  goody !  When  you  say  '  I  'spect  so,'  you 
always  do.  Hey,  King,  Rosy  Posy  ought  to  have 
a  sandy  kind  of  a  name,  even  if  she  doesn't  come 
to  our  court  meetings." 

"  'Course  she  ought.  And  she  can  come  some- 
times, if  she  doesn't  upset  things." 

"  She  can't  upset  things  worse'n  Hester  did." 

"  No ;  but  I  don't  believe  Hester  will  act  up  like 
that  again." 

"  She  may,  Marjorie,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard. 
"  I've  heard  her  mother  say  she  can't  seem  to 
curb  Hester's  habit  of  flying  into  a  temper.  So 
just  here,  my  two  loved  ones,  let  me  ask  you  to 
be  kind  to  the  little  girl,  and  if  she  gets  angry, 
4on't  flare  back  at  her,  but  try  *  a  soft  answer.'  " 


56  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  But,  Mother,"  said  King,  "  that  isn't  so  awful 
easy!  And,  anyway,  I  don't  think  she  ought  to 
do  horrid  things, — like  tumbling  down  our  palace, 
— and  then  we  just  forgive  her,  and  take  her  into 
the  club!" 

"  Why  not,  King?  " 

King  looked  a  little  nonplussed. 

"  Why,"  he  said,  "  why, — because  it  doesn't 
seem  fair." 

"  And  does  it  seem  fairer  for  you  to  lose  your 
temper  too,  and  try  what  children  call  *  getting 
even  with  her  '?  " 

"  Well,  Mother,  it  does  seem  fairer,  but  I  guess 
it  isn't  very, — very  noble." 

"  No,  son,  it  isn't.  And  I  hope  you'll  come  to 
think  that  sometimes  nobility  of  action  is  better 
than  mere  justice." 

"  I  see  what  you  mean,  Mother,  and  somehow, 
talking  here  with  you,  it  all  seems  true  enough. 
But  when  we  get  away  from  you,  and  off  with 
the  boys  and  girls,  these  things  seem  different. 
Were  you  always  noble  when  you  were  little, 
Mother?" 

"  No,  Kingdon  dear,  I  wasn't  always.  But  my 
mother  tried  her  best  to  teach  me  to  be, — so  don't 
you  think  I  ought  to  try  to  teach  you  ?  " 

"  Sure,  Mothery !  And  you  bet  we'll  do  our 
bestest  to  try  to  learn.  Hey,  Mops  ?  " 


SAND  COURT  57 

"  Yes,  indeedy !  I  want  to  do  things  right,  but 
I  seem  to  forget  just  when  I  ought  to  remember." 

"  Well,  when  you  forget,  come  home  and  tell 
Mother  all  about  it,  and  we'll  take  a  fresh  start. 
You're  pretty  fairly,  tolerably,  moderately  good 
children  after  all!  Only  I  want  you  to  grow  a 
little  speck  better  each  day." 

"  And  we  will!  "  shouted  King  and  Marjorie 
together. 


CHAPTER  V 

"  THE    JOLLY    SANDBOY  " 

THE  Sand  Club  was  not  very  strict  in  its  methods 
or  systems.  Some  days  it  met,  and  some  days 
it  didn't.  Sometimes  all  the  court  was  present, 
and  sometimes  only  three  or  four  of  them. 

But  everything  went  on  harmoniously,  and  there 
were  no  exhibitions  of  ill  temper  from  the  Sand 
Witch. 

In  fact,  Hester  was  absorbed  in  doing  her  part 
toward  the  first  number  of  The  Jolly  Sand- 
boy. 

The  child  was  quite  an  adept  at  drawing  and 
painting,  and  she  was  making  several  illustrations 
for  their  court  journal.  One,  representing  Mar- 
jorie  seated  on  her  sand  throne,  was  really  clever, 
and  there  were  other  smaller  pictures,  too. 

Kingdon  worked  earnestly  to  get  the  paper  into 
shape.  He  had  contributions  from  all  the  club, 
and  from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maynard  also.  He  had 
a  small  typewriter  of  his  own,  and  he  laboriously 
copied  the  contributions  on  fair,  white  pages,  and, 
with  Hester's  pictures  interspersed,  bound  them 
all  into  a  neat  cover  of  red  paper. 
58 


"THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY"  59 

This  Hester  ornamented  with  a  yellow  sand- 
pail,  emblem  of  their  club,  and  tied  it  at  the 
top  with  a  yellow  ribbon.  Altogether,  the  first 
number  of  The  Jolly  Sandboy  was  a  strikingly 
beautiful  affair. 

And  the  court  convened,  in  full  court  dress,  to 
hear  it  read. 

The  court  wardrobes  had  received  various  addi- 
tions.  Often  a  courtier  blossomed  out  in  some 
new  regalia,  always  of  red  or  yellow,  or  both. 

The  several  mothers  of  the  court  frequently 
donated  old  ribbons,  feathers,  or  flowers,  from  dis- 
carded millinery  or  other  finery,  and  all  these 
were  utilized  by  the  frippery  loving  courtiers. 

Hester  had  contrived  a  witch  costume,  which 
was  greatly  admired.  A  red  skirt,  a  yellow  shawl 
folded  cornerwise,  and  a  very  tall  peaked  hat  of 
black  with  red  and  yellow  ribbons,  made  the  child 
look  like  some  weird  creature. 

Marjorie's  tastes  ran  rather  to  magnificent 
attire,  and  she  accumulated  waving  plumes,  arti- 
ficial flowers,  and  floating  gauze  veils  and  drap- 
eries. 

The  boys  wore  nondescript  costumes,  in  which 
red  jerseys  and  yellow  sashes  played  a  prominent 
part,  while  King  achieved  the  dignity  of  a  mantle,,, 
picturesquely  slung  from  one  shoulder.  Many 
badges  and  orders  adorned  their  breasts,  and! 


60  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

lances  and  spears,  wound  with  gilt  paper,  added 
to  the  courtly  effect. 

"  My  dearly  beloved  Court,"  Marjorie  began, 
beaming  graciously  from  her  flower  decked  throne, 
"  we  are  gathered  together  here  to-day  to  listen 
to  the  reading  of  our  Court  Journal, — a  noble 
paper, — published  by  our  noble  courtier,  the  Sand 
Piper,  who  will  now  read  it  to  us." 

"  Hear !     Hear !  "  cried  all  the  courtiers. 

"  Most  liege  Majesty,"  began  King,  bowing  so 
low  that  his  shoulder  cape  fell  off.  But  he  hastily 
swung  it  back  into  place  and  went  on.  "  Also, 
most  liege  lady-in-waiting,  our  noble  Sand  Witch, 
we  greet  thee.  And  we  greet  our  Grand  Sand- 
jandrum,  and  our  noble  Sandow,  and  our  beloved 
Sand  Crab.  We  greet  all,  and  everybody.  Did 
I  leave  anybody  out  of  this  greeting?  " 

"  No !     No !  " 

"  All  right ;  then  I'll  fire  away.  The  first  article 
in  this  paper  is  an  editorial, — I  wrote  it  myself 
because  I  am  editor-in-chief.  You're  all  editors, 
you  know,  but  I'm  the  head  editor." 

"Why  not  say  headitor?  "  suggested  Tom. 

"  Good  idea,  friend  Courtier !  I'm  the  headitor, 
then.  And  this  is  my  headitorial.  Here  goes! 
'Courtiers  and  Citizens:  This  journal,  called 
The  Jolly  Sandboy,  shall  relate  from  time  to  time 
the  doings  of  our  noble  court.  It  shall  tell  of 


«  THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY  "  61; 

the  doughty  deeds  of  our  brave  knights,  and 
relate  the  gay  doings  of  our  fair  ladies.  It  shall 
mention  news  of  interest,  if  any,  concerning  the 
inhabitants  of  Seacote  in  general,  and  the  families 
of  this  court  in  particular.  Our  politics  are  not 
confined  to  any  especial  party,  but  our  platform 
is  to  grow  up  to  be  presidents  ourselves.'  This 
ends  my  headitorial." 

Great  applause  followed  this  i^.asterpiece  of 
journalistic  literature,  and  the  Sand  Piper  pro- 
ceeded : 

"  I  will  next  read  the  column  of  news,  notes,  and 
social  events,  as  collected  by  our  energetic  and 
capable  young  reporter,  the  Sand  Crab: 

"  *  The  Queen  and  her  lady-in-waiting  went  bath- 
ing in  the  ocean  this  morning.  Our  noble  Queen 
was  costumed  in  white,  trimmed  with  blue,  and 
the  Sand  Witch  in  dark  blue  trimmed  with  red. 
Both  noble  ladies  squealed  when  a  large  breaker 
knocked  them  over.  The  whole  court  rushed  to 
their  rescue,  and  no  permanent  damage  Resulted. 

"  Three  gentlemen  courtiers  of  this  court,  who 
reside  in  the  same  castle,  had  ice-cream  for  dinner 
last  night.  The  colors  were  pink  and  white.  It 
was  exceeding  good. 

"  A  very  young  princess,  a  sister  of  our  be- 
loved Queen,  went  walking  yesterday  afternoon 


62  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

imlh  her  maid  of  honor.  The  princess  wore  a  big 
visile  hat  with  funny  ribbon  bunches  «m  it.  Also 
white  shoes. 

**Mr.  Sears  has  had  his  back  fence  painted. 
{We  don't  know  any  Mr.  Sears,  and  he  hasn't 
any  back  fence,  but  we  are  making  up  now,  as 
cor  real  news  has  given  out  and  our  column  isn't 
full) 

"Mrs.  Black  spent  Sunday  with  her  mother- 
in-law,  Mrs.  Green.  (See  above.) 

^Mr.  Van  Winkle  is  building  a  gray  stone 
mansion  of  forty  rooms  on  Seashore  Drive.  We 
flunk  it  is  quite  a  pretty  house. 

^This  is  all  the  news  I  can  find  for  this  time. 
Tears  truly.— THE  SAND  CRAB.'  " 

**  Noble  Sand  Crab,  we  thank  you  for  your  fine 
contribution  to  our  midst,"  announced  the  Queen, 
and  the  Sand  Crab  burrowed  in  the  sand  and 
locked  in  sheer  delight  at  such  praise. 

m  The  next,"  announced  the  Sand  Piper,  "  is 
«*  original  poem  by  our  most  liege  majesty,  the 
Qaeen.  It's  pretty  fine,  I  think. 

"Most  noble  Court,  I  greet  you  now, 
From  Grand  Sandjandrum  to  small  Sandow. 
From  old  Sand  Piper,  and  gay  Sand  Witch, 
To  Sand  Crab,  with  hair  as  black  as  pitch. 
1  hope  our  Court  will  ever  be 
Renowned  for  its  fun  and  harmony. 


"THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY  "  6S 

And  as  I  gaze  on  this  gorgeous  scene, 
I'm  glad  I  am  your  beloved  Queen." 

"  Jinks  !  that's  gay  !  "  exclaimed  Tom.  "  How 
do  you  ever  do  it,  Marjorie?  I  did  a  poem,  bufc 
it  doesn't  run  nice  and  slick  like  yours." 

"  I'll  read  it  next,"  said  King.     "  I  think 
pretty  good. 


"  I  love  the  people  named 
I  like  to  play  in  their  back  yard. 
We  have  a  jolly  Sand  Court, 
Which  makes  the  time  fly  very  short. 
Except  going  in  the  ocean  bathing, 
There's  nothing  I  like  so  much  for  a  plaything." 

"  That's  rery  nice,  Tom,"  said  Marjorie,  for- 
getting her  role. 

"  No,  it  isn't.  It  seems  as  if  it  ought  to  but 
right,  and  then  somehow  it  isn't.  Bathing  ami 
plaything  are  'most  alike,  and  yet  they  sound 
awful  different." 

"  That's  so.  Well,  anyway,  it's  plenty  good 
enough,  and  it's  all  true,  Tom." 

"  Yes,  it's  all  true." 

"  Then  it  must  be  right,  'cause  there's  a  quo- 
tation or  something  that  says  truth  is  beauty* 
We  wouldn't  want  all  our  poems  to  be  just 
you  know." 

"  No,  I  s'pose  not,"  and  Tom  felt  greatly 
couraged  by  Marjorie's  kind  criticism. 


64 

"  Next,"  said  King,  "  is  our  Puzzle  Depart- 
ment. It's  sort  of  queer,  but  it's  Sandow's  con- 
tribution, and  he  said  to  put  it  in,  and  he'd  explain 
about  it.  So  here  it  is. 

"  *  SANDY  PEIZE  PUZZLE.  Prize,  a  musical  top, 
donated  by  the  author.  Question:  Is  the  num- 
ber of  sands  on  the  seashore  odd  or  even?  Any- 
body in  this  court  who  can  answer  this  question 
truthfully  will  receive  the  prize.  Signed,  SAX- 
DOW.'  ' 

"  That's  nonsense,"  cried  Hester.  "  How  can 
anybody  tell  whether  we  answer  truthfully  or 
not?" 

"  I  can  tell,"  said  Sandow,  gravely.  "  Who- 
ever first  answers  it  truthfully  will  get  the 
prize." 

"  But  it's  ridiculous,"  said  King.  "  In  the  first 
place,  how  much  seashore  do  you  mean?  Only 
that  here  at  Seacote,  or  all  the  Atlantic  shore? 
Or  all  the  world?  " 

Dick  considered.  "  I  mean  all  the  seashore  in 
all  the  world,"  he  said,  at  last. 

"  Then  that's  silly,  too,"  said  Tom,  "  for  how 
far  does  the  seashore  go?  Just  to  the  edge  of 
the  ocean,  or  all  the  way  under?  " 

"  All  the  way  under,"  replied  Dick,  solemnly. 


"THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY"  65 

"  Then  you  really  mean  all  the  sand  in  all  the 
world !  " 

"  Yes ;  that's  it.  Of  course,  all  the  sand  in 
all  the  world  numbers  a  certain  number  of  grains. 
Now,  is  that  number  odd  or  even?  " 

"  You're  crazy,  Dick ! "  said  Hester,  but  Mar- 
jorie  said,  "  No,  he  isn't  crazy;  I  think  there's  a 
principle  there  somewhere,  but  I  can't  work  it 
out." 

"  I  guess  you  can't !  "  said  King.  "  I  give  it 
up." 

"  So  do  I ! "  declared  Tom,  and  at  last  they 
all  gave  it  up. 

"  Now  you  must  answer  it  yourself,  Dick,"  said 
King. 

"  Then  nobody  gets  the  prize,"  objected  San- 
dow. 

"  No,  you  keep  it  yourself.  Have  you  got  one, 
anyhow?  " 

"  Yes,  a  nice  musical  top  Uncle  John  sent  to 
me.  I've  never  used  it  much,  it's  as  good  as  new. 
I  wish  somebody  would  guess." 

Nobody  did,  and  Dick  sighed. 

"  Bet  you  can't  answer  your  old  puzzle,  your- 
self," said  Hester. 

"  Yes,  I  can,"  averred  Dick,  "  but  you  must 
ask  it  to  me." 

"  All  right,"  said  King.    "  Mr.  Sandow,  honor- 


66  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

able  and  noble  courtier  of  Sand  Court,  is  the 
»umber  of  sea  sands  odd  or  even?  Answer  truth- 
folly  now." 

*'  I  don't  know,"  replied  Dick,  "  and  that's  the 
troth!" 

How  they  all  laughed!  It  was  a  quibble,  of 
course,  but  the  Maynard  children  were  surprised 
at  themselves  that  they  hadn't  seen  through  the 
catch. 

Dick  sat  on  the  sand,  rocking  back  and  forth 
"with  laughter. 

**  The  witch  ought  to  have  guessed  it,"  he 
cried ;  "  or  else  the  Queen  ought  to." 

"Yes,  my  courtier,  we  ought,"  Marjorie  ad- 
mitted. "  You  caught  us  fairly,  and  we  hereby 
give  you  the  post  of  wizard  of  this  court.  Sand 
Piper,  what's  next  in  your  journal?  " 

"*  The  next  is  a  poem  by  the  Honorable  Edward 
Maynard.  That  is,  he  wrote  part  of  it,  and  then, 
as  he  had  to  go  to  New  York  on  business,  his 
lionorable  wife  finished  it.  Here  it  is: 

"Royal  Courtiers,  great  and  grand, 
Ruling  o'er  your  court  of  sand, 
Take  this  greeting  from  the  pen 
Of  an  humble  citizen. 
Mny  you,  each  one,  learn  to  be 
Filled  with  true  nobility; 
'Gentle,  loving,  brave,  and  kind, 
Strong  of  arm  and  pure  of  mind. 


"THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY"  67 

May  you  have  a  lot  of  fun, 
And  look  back,  when  day  is  done. 
O'er  long  hours  of  merry  play 
Filled  with  laughter  blithe  and  gay. 
May  your  court  of  mimic  rule 
Teach  you  lore  not  learned  in  school; 
Rule  your  heart  to  think  no  ill, 
Rule  your  temper  and  your  will." 

"  Gee,  that's  real  poetry,  that  is ! "  exclaimed 
Tom.  "  Say,  your  people  are  poets,  aren't 
they?" 

**  Why,  I  think  they  are,"  said  Marjorie,  "  but 
Father  says  they're  not." 

"  I'd  like  a  copy  of  that  poem,"  said  Hester, 
looking  very  serious. 

"  All  right,"  said  King,  catching  the  witch's 
glance.  "  I'll  make  you  a  nice  typewritten  copy 
of  it  to-morrow." 

"  And  now,  my  royal  Sand  Piper,  is  there  any 
more  poetic  lore  for  us  to  listen  to?  " 

"  Aye,  my  liege  Queen,  there  is  one  more  poem. 
This  is  a  real  poem  also,  but  it  is  of  the  humorous 
variety.  It  was  composed  by  the  mother  of  our 
royal  Sand  Witch,  and  was  freely  contributed  to 
our  paper  by  that  estimable  lady.  Methinks  she 
mistook  our  club  for  a  debating  club,  and  yet, 
perhaps  not.  This  may  be  merely  a  flight  of 
fancy,  such  as  poets  are  very  fond  of,  I  am  told. 
I  will  now  read  Mrs.  Corey's  contribution: 


68  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  There  once  was  a  Debating  Club,  exceeding  wise  and  great ; 
On  grave  and  abstruse  questions  it  would  eagerly  debate. 
Its  members  said :  '  We  are  so  wise,  ourselves  we'll  herewith 

dub 

The  Great  Aristophelean  Pythagoristic  Club.' 
And  every  night  these  bigwigs  met,  and  strove  with  uonost 

pains 

To  solve  recondite  problems  that  would  baffle  lesser  brains. 
They  argued  and  debated  till  the  hours  were  small  and  wee; 
And  weren't  much  discouraged  if  they  didn't  then  agree. 
They  said  their  say,  and  went  their  way,  these  cheerful, 

pleasant  men, 

And  then  came  round  next  evening,  and  said  it  all  again. 
Well,    possibly,    you'll    be    surprised;    but    all    the    winter 

through 

The  questions  they  debated  on  numbered  exactly  two. 
For  as  they  said :  '  Of  course  we  can't  take  up  another  one, 
Till  we  have  solved  conclusively  the  two  that  we've  begun.' 
They  reasoned  and  they  argued,  as  the  evenings  wore  along; 
And  each  one  thought  that  he  was  right,  and  deemed  the 

others  wrong. 

They  wrangled  and  contended,  they  disputed  and  discussed, 
They  retorted  and  rebutted,  they  refuted  and  they  fussed; 
But  though  their  wisdom  was  profound,  and  erudite  their 

speech, 

A  definite  conclusion  those  men  could  never  reach. 
And  so  the  club  disbanded,  and  they  read  their  last  report, 
Which  told  the  whole  sad  story,  though  it  was  exceeding 

short: 

'Resolved — We  are  not  able  to  solve  these  problems  two: 
"Does  Polly  want  a  cracker?"  and  "What  did  Katy 

do?"'" 

"Well,  isn't  that  fine!"  cried  Marjorie. 
"  Why,  Hester,  your  mother  is  more  a  poet  than 
ours." 


"THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY  *  69 

"  She  does  write  lovely  poetry,"  said  Hester, 
"  but  I  like  your  mother's  poem,  too,  because  it, — 
well,  you  know  what  I  mean." 

Somehow  the  children  all  understood  that  tem- 
pestuous Hester  appreciated  the  lines  that  so 
gently  advised  the  ruling  and  subduing  of  an 
unruly  temper  and  will,  but  nobody  knew  just 
how  to  express  it. 

So  King  broke  a  somewhat  awkward  silence 
by  saying,  heartily,  "  Yep,  we  know ! "  and  all 
the  others  said  "  Yep  "  in  chorus. 

"  I  think,  O  Royal  Court,"  the  Queen  began, 
"  that  our  first  paper  is  fine.  How  often  shall 
we  issue  The  Jolly  Sandboy?  " 

"  'Bout  once  a  week,  I  think,"  said  Tom. 

"  All  right,"  agreed  King ;  "  and  you  fellows 
get  your  stuff  in  a  little  earlier  next  week  so's  I 
can  typewrite  it  in  time." 

"  And  now,  my  beloved  court,"  resumed  Mid- 
get, "  I  think  we  have  sat  still  long  enough,  and 
I  decree  that  we  have  a  game  of  Prisoner's  Base. 
And  what  I  say  goes !  " 

There  was  no  dissenting  voice.  The  Queen  un- 
pinned her  court  train  from  her  shoulders,  the 
Sand  Witch  laid  aside  her  tall,  peaked  hat,  and 
the  courtiers  discarded  such  details  of  their  cos- 
tumes as  seemed  likely  to  impede  progress  in  the 
game.  Prisoner's  Base  was  followed  by  Hide  and 


70  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Seek,  and  then  it  was  time  for  the  court  to  repair 
to  its  several  homes. 

"  It's  all  so  lovely,  Marjorie,"  said  Hester. 
"  I'm  so  glad  you  let  me  play  with  you." 

"  That's  all  right,  Hester,  as  long  as  you  don't 
smash  things  or  make  faces  at  us." 

"  Oh,  I  never  will  again;  truly,  Marjorie.  I'm 
going  to  learn  that  poem  of  your  mother's  by 
heart,  and  I  know  I'll  never  lose  my  temper  again. 
Good-bye." 

"  Good-bye,  Hester,"  and  after  an  affectionate 
kiss  the  two  girls  parted. 

"  Goo'-bye,  Queenie  Sandy,"  called  Tom,  as 
they  separated  at  the  turn  of  the  path. 

"  Good-bye,  Tom,  you  old  Grand  Sandjan- 
drum ! "  and  then  the  Maynards  ran  into  their 
own  house. 

"  Gently,  my  lad  and  lassie ;  gently ! "  warned 
Mrs.  Maynard,  as  her  two  young  hopefuls  flung 
themselves  upon  her. 

"  Oh,  Mothery,"  cried  Marjorie,  "  we  had  such 
a  good  time!  And  our  court  journal  was  lovely! 
Want  to  see  it?  And  King  fixed  it  up  so  beauti- 
fully, and  Hester  made  such  dear  pictures  for  it! 
Oh,  Mother,  isn't  it  splendid  to  have  so  much 
fun?" 

"  Yes,  dearie,"  and  Mrs.  Maynard  stroked  the 
flushed  brow  of  her  energetic  and  excitable  daugh- 


"  THE  JOLLY  SANDBOY  *  71 

ter.  "  But  when  you  come  in  from  your  play, 
you  must  be  a  little  bit  quieter  and  more  lady- 
like. I  don't  want  to  think  that  these  merry 
companions  of  yours  are  making  you  really  bois- 
terous." 

"  They  are,  though,"  said  King.  "  I  like  the 
Craigs  and  Hester  Corey,  but  they  sure  are  the 
noisy  bunch !  " 

"  Oh,  King,  not  quite  so  much  slang !  " 
"  No,  Mother,  we  won't  get  gay !     We'll  try  to 
please  you  every  way!     But  we're  feeling  rather 
spry    to-day!     So    please    excuse    us,    Mothery 
May!" 


CHAPTER  VI 

TWO   WELCOME   GUESTS 

JT  was  Saturday  afternoon.  The  Maynard  chil- 
dren had  been  told  that  guests  were  expected  to 
dinner,  and  they  must  put  on  festival  array. 

And  so  when  King  and  Marjorie,  in  white  serge 
and  white  pique  respectively,  wandered  out  on 
to  the  front  veranda,  they  found  their  parents 
and  a  very  dressy-looking  Rosamond  there  before 
them. 

"Who  are  coming  to  dinner,  Mother?"  asked 
Midget. 

"  Ask  your  father,  my  dear." 

"  Why,  don't  you  know,  Mother  ?  Well,  who 
are  they,  Daddy?  " 

"  Somebody  and  somebody  else,"  replied  Mr. 
Maynard,  smiling. 

"  Oho,  a  secret !  "  exclaimed  Midget.  "  Then 
it  must  be  somebody  nice!  Let's  guess,  King." 

"  All  right.  Are  they  kids  or  grown-ups, 
Father?" 

"  Grown-ups,  my  son." 

"Oh!"  and  Marjorie  looked  disappointed. 
"  Do  we  know  them  ?  " 

72 


TWO  WELCOME  GUESTS  73 

"  You  have  met  them,  yes." 

"  Do  they  live  at  Seacote?  " 

"  They  are  here  for  the  summer." 

"  Where  do  they  live  winters  ?  "  asked  King. 

"  Under  the  Stars  and  Stripes." 

"  Huh !  that  may  mean  the  Philippines  or 
Alaska!" 

"  It  may.  Have  you  met  many  people  who 
reside  in  those  somewhat  removed  spots  ?  " 

"  Not  many,"  said  King,  "  and  that's  a  fact. 
Well,  are  they  a  lady  and  gentleman  ?  " 

"  They  are." 

"Oh,  I  know!"  cried  Marjorie.  "It's  Kitty 
and  Uncle  Steve !  He  said  they'd  come  down  here 
some  time  while  we're  here!  Am  I  right, 
Father?" 

'•*  Not  quite,  Mopsy.  You  see,  I  said  they  are 
grown-ups." 

"Both  of  them?" 

"  Both  of  them." 

"  Well,  I  don't  care  much  who  they  are,  then," 
declared  King.  "  I  don't  see  anything  in  it  for 
us,  Mops." 

"  No,  but  we  ought  to  guess  them  if  they're 
spending  the  summer  here  and  we've  met  them. 
Of  course,  it  couldn't  be  Kitty !  She  isn't  spend- 
ing the  summer  here.  Is  it  the  Coreys  or  Craigs, 
Father?  " 


74  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  No,  neither  of  those  names  fit  our  expected 
guests." 

"  Then  it  must  be  some  of  those  people  the 
other  side  of  the  pier.  I  don't  know  any  more 
on  this  side  except  the  fishermen.  Is  it  any  of 
them?" 

"  Well,  no.  I  doubt  if  they'd  care  to  visit  us. 
But  never  mind  our  guests  for  the  moment;  I 
want  you  two  children  to  go  on  an  errand  for 
me." 

"  Right-o !  "  said  King.     "  Where  ?  " 

"  Walk  along  the  shore  road  three  blocks,  then 
turn  inland  and  walk  a  block  and  a  half.  Do  you 
know  that  place  with  lots  of  vines  all  over  the 
front  of  the  house?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  said  Marjorie,  "  but  nobody  lives 
there." 

"  All  right.  I  want  you  to  take  a  message  to 
Mr.  Nobody." 

"  Oh,  Father,  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Just  what  I  say.  You  say  nobody  lives  there, 
and  that's  the  very  man  I  mean." 

"All  right,"  said  King.  "We'll  go,  if  you 
tell  us  to.  Hey,  Mops?" 

"  'Course  we  will !  What  shall  we  say  to  Mr. 
Nobody,  Father?" 

"  First  you  must  ring  the  doorbell,  and  if  No- 
body opens  the  door,  walk  in." 


TWO  WELCOME  GUESTS  75 

"  Ho !  If  Nobody  opens  the  door,  how  can  we 
walk  in?" 

"  Walk  in.  And  then  if  Nobody  speaks  to 
you,  answer  him  politely,  and  say  your  father, 
one  Mr.  Maynard,  desires  his  advice  and  assist- 
ance." 

"  Oh,  Father,  I  do  believe  you're  crazy !  "  ex- 
claimed Marjorie. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  King,  "  if  Father's  crazy, 
we'll  be  crazy  too!  What  next,  for  orders?" 

"  After  that,  be  guided  by  your  own  common 
sense  and  good  judgment.  And, — you  wouldn't 
be  frightened  at  Nobody,  would  you?  " 

"No!"  declared  King.  "Nobody  could 
frighten  me !  " 

"Oh,  he  could,  could  he?  Well,  you  are  a 
foolish  boy  if  Nobody  could  frighten  you ! " 

King  looked  a  little  confused,  and  then  he 
laughed  and  said,  "  Well,  I'd  just  as  lieve  fight 
Nobody,  if  he  attacks  me." 

"  There'll  be  no  cause  to  fight,  my  boy.  Now, 
skip  along,  and  remember  your  message." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Edward  Maynard  wants  advice  and 
assistance  from  Nobody!  Well,  I  guess  that's 
right,  Father,  but  it  all  sounds  to  me  like  an  April 
Fool  joke.  Come  on,  Midget." 

As  the  two  children  skipped  away,  King  said, 
thoughtfully,  "  What  does  it  all  mean,  Mops  ?  " 


76  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  I  dunno,  King.  But  it  means  something.  It 
isn't  a  wild-goose  chase,  or  an  April-fool  sort  of 
joke.  I  know  Father  has  some  nice  surprise  for 
us  the  way  his  eyes  twinkled." 

"  Well,  but  this  empty  house  business  seems  so 
silly!  I  know  nobody  lives  there,  for  I  passed 
there  a  few  days  ago,  and  it  was  all  shut  up." 

"  Well,  we'll  soon  find  out,"  and  the  children 
turned  the  corner  toward  the  house  in  question. 
Sure  enough,  the  blinds  were  closed  and  there  was 
no  sign  of  habitation. 

"  Mr.  Nobody  lives  here,  all  right !  "  said  King 
as  they  entered  the  gate. 

"  And  such  a  pretty  place,  too,"  commented 
Marjorie,  looking  at  the  luxuriant  vines  that  ran 
riot  over  the  front  veranda. 

King  rang  the  bell,  feeling  half-angry  and  half- 
silly  at  the  performance.  In  a  moment  the  door 
swung  open,  but  no  person  was  seen. 

"  Well !  "  exclaimed  King.  "  Nobody  opened 
that  door ! " 

"  We  must  walk  in,"  said  Midget.  "  Father 
said  so." 

"  Oh,  I  hate  to !  We  really  haven't  any  right 
to  go  into  a  strange  house  like  this !  " 

"But  Father  said  to!  Come  on!"  And 
grasping  King's  hand,  Midget  urged  him  inside. 
They  stood  in  the  middle  of  a  pretty  and  attrac- 


TWO  WELCOME  GUESTS  77 

tively  furnished  hall,  but  saw  or  heard  no 
people. 

"Hello,  Mr.  Nobody!"  said  Marjorie,  still 
clasping  King's  hand  tightly,  for  the  situation  was 
a  little  weird. 

"  Hello,  yourself !  "  responded  a  cheery  voice,, 
but  they  couldn't  see  any  one. 

The  voice  reassured  King,  and  he  said,  humor- 
ously, "  I  see  Nobody!  How  do  you  do,  sir?  " 

"  Quite  well,"  answered  the  same  voice,  but  it 
was  a  bit  muffled,  and  they  couldn't  judge  where 
it  came  from.  Also  it  sounded  very  gay  and 
laughing,  and  Marjorie  thought  it  seemed  a  bit 
familiar,  though  she  couldn't  place  it. 

"  My  father  sent  a  message,"  went  on  King, 
sturdily.  "  He  says  he  wants  Nobody's  advice  and 
assistance." 

"  What  a  self-reliant  man !  "  said  the  voice,  and 
then  from  behind  a  portiere  a  laughing  face  ap- 
peared, followed  by  a  man's  active  body.  At  the 
same  time,  from  an  opposite  portiere,  a  lady 
sprang  out  and  took  Marjorie  in  her  arms. 

"  Cousin  Ethel !  " 

"Cousin  Jack!" 

And  the  children  laughed  in  glee  as  they  recog- 
nized Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryant. 

"  You  dear  things !  "  the  lady  exclaimed.  "  T 
think  it's  awful  to  startle  you  so,  but  it's  the  joke 


78  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

of  your  father  and  your  Cousin  Jack.  I  was 
afraid  it  would  scare  you.  Did  it?  " 

"  Not  exactly,"  said  Marjorie,  cuddling  in 
Cousin  Ethel's  arms,  but  King  protested: 

"  No,  indeed !  "  he  declared.  "  I  wasn't  scared, 
but  I  felt  a  little  queer." 

"You're  two  Ducky  Daddies!"  Cousin  Ethel 
cried,  and  Cousin  Jack  slapped  King  on  the 
shoulder  and  said,  "  You're  a  trump,  old  man !  " 
and  King  felt  very  grown-up  and  manly. 

"What's  it  all  about?"  he  inquired,  and  Mr. 
Bryant  replied: 

"  Well,  you  see,  if  you've  room  for  us  here 
in  Seacote,  we're  going  to  stay  here  for  a  while. 
In  fact,  we've  taken  this  shack  with  such  an  in- 
tention." 

"Oh!"  cried  Marjorie.  "You've  taken  this 
house  for  the  summer,  and  Father  knew  it,  and 
sent  us  over  here  to  be  surprised !  " 

"  You've  sized  up  the  situation  exactly,  Mehita- 
bel,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  who  loved  to  call  Midget 
by  this  old-fashioned  name.  "  And  now,  if  we 
were  properly  invited,  and  very  strongly  urged, 
we  might  be  persuaded  to  go  home  to  dinner  with 
you." 

"  Oh,"  cried  Marjorie,  a  light  breaking  in  upon 
her,  "  you're  the  dinner  guests  they're  expect- 


ing 


I  » 


TWO  WELCOME  GUESTS  79 

"  We  sure  are !  "  said  Cousin  Jack.  "  And  as 
this  is  the  first  time  we've  been  invited  out  to 
dinner  in  Seacote,  we're  impatient  to  go." 

So  they  set  off  for  the  Maynard  house,  and 
Midget  led  the  way  with  Cousin  Ethel. 

"  When  did  you  come  ?  "  she  inquired. 

"  Only  this  morning,  dear.  We're  not  quite 
set  to  rights  yet,  though  I  brought  my  own  serv- 
ants, and  they'll  soon  have  us  all  comfy." 

"  And  how  did  you  and  Father  fix  up  thi* 
plan?" 

"  He  was  over  here  this  afternoon,  and  he  and 
Cousin  Jack  planned  it.  Then,  as  soon  as  you 
left  your  house,  your  father  telephoned  over  here, 
and  we  prepared  to  receive  you  in  that  crazy 
fashion.  Of  course,  Jack  opened  the  door  and 
stayed  behind  it.  You  weren't  frightened,  were 
you?  " 

"  No,  not  really.  But  it  seemed  a  little, — a 
little  creepy,  you  know." 

"  Of  course  it  did !  "  cried  Cousin  Jack  from 
behind  them.  "  But  that  house  is  so  overhung 
with  creepers  it  makes  you  feel  creepy  anyway. 
I'm  going  to  call  it  Creeper  Castle." 

"  Oh,  don't!  "  said  Marjorie.  "  It  sounds  hor- 
rid! Makes  you  think  of  caterpillars  and  things 
like  that !  " 

"  So   it   does !     Well,  Mehitabel,  you  name  it 


80  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

for  us.  I  can't  live  in  a  house  without  a 
name." 

"  I'd  call  it  Bryant  Bower.  That  sounds 
flowery  and  pretty." 

"  Just  the  ticket !  You're  a  genius  for  names  ! 
Bryant  Bower  it  is.  What's  the  name  of  your 
house, — Maynard  Mansion?  " 

"  Maynard  Manor  is  prettier,"  suggested 
Cousin  Ethel. 

"  So  it  is !  Maynard  Manor  goes !  I  don't 
know  anybody  with  prettier  manners  than  the 
Maynards,  especially  the  younger  generation  of 
them,"  and  though  Cousin  Jack  spoke  laughingly, 
there  was  an  earnest  undertone  in  his  voice  that 
greatly  pleased  King  and  Marjorie. 

"  Hooray !  "  cried  that  hilarious  gentleman,  as 
they  reached  the  Maynards'  veranda.  "  Hello, 
Ed.  How  d'ye  do,  Helen?  Here  we  are!  We're 
returning  your  youngsters  right  side  up  with 
care.  Why,  look  who's  here !  "  and  catching  up 
Rosy  Posy,  he  tossed  her  high  in  the  air,  to  the 
little  girl's  great  delight. 

Dinner  was  a  festive  occasion  indeed,  and  after- 
ward they  all  sat  on  the  wide  veranda  and  listened 
to  the  roar  of  the  waves. 

"  This  is  a  restful  place,"  said  Cousin  Ethel, 
as  she  leaned  back  comfortably  in  her  wicker 
rocker. 


TWO  WELCOME  GUESTS  81 

"  So  it  is,"  agreed  her  husband,  "  but,  if  you 
ask  me,  I  think  it's  too  restful.  I  like  a  place 
with  some  racket  to  it,  don't  you,  Hezekiah?  " 

This  was  his  pet  name  for  King,  and  the  boy 
replied : 

"  There's  fun  enough  here,  Cousin  Jack,  if  you 
make  it  yourself." 

"That's  so,  is  it?  Well,  I  guess  I'll  try  to 
make  some.  Let's  see,  isn't  Fourth  of  July  next 
week?" 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  said  Marjorie.  "  Next  week, 
Wednesday." 

"  Well,  that's  a  good  day  to  have  fun ;  and  an 
especially  good  day  for  a  racket.  What  shall 
we  do,  kiddies  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  for  us  to  choose  ?  "  asked  Mar- 
jorie. 

"  No,  Mehitabel ;  you  suggest,  and  I'll  choose. 
You  think  of  the  very  nicest  sort  of  celebrations 
you  know,  and  I'll  select  the  nicest  of  them 
all." 

"  Well,"  said  Midget,  thoughtfully,  "  there's  a 
party  or  a  picnic.  How  many  people  do  you 
mean,  Cousin  Jack?  And  do  you  mean  children 
or  grown-ups  ?  " 

"  Now  I  feel  aggrieved,  and  insulted,  and  cha- 
grined, and  many  other  awful  things !  "  Cousin 
Jack  looked  so  woebegone  that  they  almost 


82  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

thought  him  in  earnest.  "  You  know,  Mehitabcl, 
that  I'm  but  a  child  myself !  I'm  not  a  grown-up, 
and  I  never  will  be !  " 

"  That's  so !  "  laughed  his  wife. 

"  And  so,  us  children  will  have  a  celebration 
of  the  children,  for  the  children,  and  by  the  chil- 
dren !  How  many  perfectly  good  children  do  you 
know  down  here?  " 

"  Not  many,"  said  King ;  "  hardly  any,  in  fact, 
except  the  Sand  Club." 

"The  Sand  Club!  That  sounds  interesting. 
Tell  me  about  it." 

So  King  and  Mar j one  told  all  about  the  Sand 
Club  and  its  six  members,  and  Cousin  Jack  de- 
clared that  was  just  enough  for  his  idea  of  a 
Fourth  of  July  celebration. 

"  Now  for  the  plan,"  he  went  on.  "  How  about 
a  picnic  in  the  woods,  which  I  see  sticking  up 
over  there,  and  then  come  back  to  Bryant  Bower 
for  some  fireworks  later?  " 

"  I  think  that  sounds  beautiful !  "  said  Mar- 
jorie,  and  King  entirely  agreed. 

"Why  not  have  the  fireworks  here?"  said  Mr. 
Maynard.  "  You're  too  good  to  these  children, 
Jack." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  We  can  have  a  celebration 
here  some  other  night.  But  I've  picked  out  the 
glorious  Fourth  for  my  own  little  racketty- 


TWO  WELCOME  GUESTS  83 

packetty  party.  You  see,  on  that  day  we  can 
make  all  the  noise  we  like  and  not  get  arrested." 

"  Can  we  dress  up,  Cousin  Jack?  "  asked  Mar- 
jorie. 

"  Sure,  child ;  wear  your  best  bib  and  tucker, 
if  j'ou  like,  but  I  like  you  better  in  your  play- 
clothes." 

"  I  don't  mean  that.     I  mean  costumes." 

"  Midget  is  great  for  dressing  up,"  explained 
King.  "  She  always  wants  some  cheesecloth 
wobbed  around  her,  and  veils  and  feathers  on  her 
head." 

"  Oh,  I  see !  Why,  yes,  I  rather  guess  we  can 
dress  up." 

"  I'll  wear  a  red,  white,  and  blue  sash,  and  a 
liberty  cap,"  said  Midget,  her  eyes  dancing. 

"  Oh,  we  can  do  better  than  that,"  responded 
Cousin  Jack.  "  Let's  see ;  we'll  make  it  a  sort 
of  reception  affair,  and  you,  Mehitabel,  can  be  the 
Goddess  of  Liberty,  or  Miss  Columbia,  whichever 
you  like.  Hezekiah,  you  can  be  Uncle  Sam! 
Your  respected  Cousin  Ethel  and  I  will  guarantee 
your  costume." 

"  I  want  to  be  a  somefin',"  spoke  up  Rosamond, 
who  had  been  allowed  to  stay  up  later  than  usual, 
in  honor  of  the  guests. 

"  So  you  shall,  Babykins.  I  guess  we'll  let 
Sister  be  Miss  Columbia,  and  vou  shall  be  a  dear 


84  MARJOHIE  AT  SEACOTE 

little  Goddess  of  Liberty  all  your  own  self !  How's 
that?  "  and  Cousin  Jack  beamed  at  the  smiling 
Rosy  Posy. 

"  Now,  where  shall  the  picnic  be?  "  asked  Cousin 
Ethel,  ready  to  help  along  the  plans. 

"  There's  a  lovely  grove  over  beyond  the  pier," 
said  Midget ;  "  we  might  go  there." 

"  The  very  place !  "  said  Cousin  Jack ;  "  and 
we'll  have  a  sand-pail  picnic.  Didn't  you  say  your 
coat-of-arms  was  a  sand-pail?  " 

"  Yes,  that's  the  Emblem  of  the  Club." 

"  And  a  fine  emblem  for  a  picnic.  We'll  have 
pails  of  sandwiches  and  cakes,  and  a  pail  of  lemon- 
ade, and  a  pail  of  ice  cream.  How's  that  for 
emblems  ?  " 

"Fine!"  said  King.  "Shall  I  invite  the 
guests  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  boy.  Tell  them  to  assemble  here  at 
three  o'clock,  and  we'll  depart  at  once.  Tell  them 
all  to  wear  red,  white,  and  blue  in  honor  of  the 
day." 

"  And  do  we  catch  firecrackers  ?  " 

"  Little  ones, — and  torpedoes.  But  no  cannon 
crackers  or  cap-pistols  or  bombs  or  any  fire- 
arms. I'm  not  going  to  have  a  hospitalful  of 
gunpowder  victims  on  my  hands  the  next  day." 

"  And  now,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard,  "  as  these 
wonderful  affairs  of  the  nation  seem  to  be  all 


TWO  WELCOME  GUESTS  85 

settled,  I  think  you  young  patriots  must  skip  to 
bed.  Your  father  and  I  would  like  a  few  words 
ourselves  with  these  guests  of  ours." 

"  Guests  of  ours,"  corrected  Midget,  gayly. 
*'  Cousin  Jack  says  he's  never  going  to  grow  up !  " 

But  after  lingering  good-nights,  the  brother  and 
sister,  arm  in  arm,  went  into  the  house. 

"  Aren't  they  dandies ! "  exclaimed  King,  as 
they  went  upstairs. 

"Gay!"  agreed  Marjorie.  "Won't  we  have 
fun  on  the  Fourth !  Oh,  I  was  so  surprised  to 
see  them,  weren't  you,  King?  " 

"  Yep.  The  Craigs  will  like  Cousin  Jack,  won't 
they?" 

"  Yes,  indeed,  and  Hester,  too.  Good-night, 
King." 

"  Good-night,  Mopsy  Midget.  Here !  "  and  as 
a  final  compliment,  King  pulled  off  her  hair-ribbon 
and  handed  it  to  her  with  a  dancing-school  bow. 

Marjorie  gave  his  hair  an  affectionate  tweak, 
and  with  these  good-natured  attentions  they 
parted. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE   GLORIOUS   FOURTH 

THE  sun  rose  early  on  Fourth  of  July  morn- 
ing-. For  he  knew  many  patriotic  young  hearts 
were  beating  with  impatience  for  the  great  day  to 
begin.  Moreover,  he  rose  clear  and  bright,  and 
yet  he  didn't  shine  down  too  hotly  for  the  com- 
fort of  those  same  young  people.  In  fact,  it  was 
a  perfect  summer  day. 

Marjorie  sprang  out  of  bed  and  began  to  dress, 
with  glad  anticipations.  The  Bryants  were  to 
spend  the  day  at  Maynard  Manor,  until  time  for 
the  afternoon  picnic,  and  after  the  picnic  came  the 
reception  at  Bryant  Bower. 

Midget  put  on  a  fresh  white  pique,  and  tied  up 
her  mop  of  curls  with  wide  bows  of  red,  white,  and 
blue  ribbon. 

When  all  ready  she  went  dancing  down- 
stairs, pausing  on  her  way  to  tap  at  King's 
door. 

"All  ready,  Kinksie?  "  she  called  out. 

"In  a  minute,  Mops.     Wait  for  me!" 

Midget  sat  down  on  the  staircase  window-seat, 
and  in  a  moment  King  joined  her  there. 
86 


THE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH  87 

"  Hello,  Mopsy-Doodle !  Merry  Fourth  of  Ju 
—New  Year's ! " 

"  Hello,  yourself !  Oh,  King,  isn't  it  a  gor- 
geous day?  What  shall  we  do  first?  " 

"  I  dunno !  We  can't  shoot  things  or  make 
much  noise,  until  Father  and  Mother  get  up.  It 
would  be  mean  to  wake  them." 

"  Oh,  pshaw !  they  can't  be  asleep  through  all 
this  racket  that  is  going  on.  Hear  the  shooting 
all  around." 

"  Well,  we'll  see.    Let's  get  outdoors,  anyhow." 

The  children  opened  the  front  door,  and  there, 
sitting  on  the  veranda  steps,  his  head  leaning 
against  a  pillar,  sat  Cousin  Jack,  apparently 
sound  asleep. 

"  Will  you  look  at  that ! "  said  King,  in  a 
whisper.  "  Has  he  been  here  all  night,  do  you 
s'pose?  " 

"  No,  'course  not.  But  I  s'pose  he's  been  here 
some  time.  Do  you  think  he's  really  asleep?  " 

"  He  looks  so.    What  shall  we  do  with  him  ?  " 

"  Dress  him  up,"  commanded  Marjorie, 
promptly,  and  pulling  off  her  wide  hair-ribbons, 
she  proceeded  to  tie  one  around  Cousin  Jack's 
neck,  and  one  around  his  head,  giving  that  gentle- 
man a  very  festive  appearance. 

After  she  had  arranged  the  bows  to  her  satis- 
faction, Cousin  Jack  obligingly  woke  up, — 


88 

though,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  he  hadn't  been  to 
sleep ! 

"  Why,  if  here  isn't  Mehitabel !  "  he  exclaimed ; 
"  and  Hezekiah,  too !  What  a  surprise !  " 

"  How  do  you  like  your  decorations  ?  "  asked 
Marjorie,  surveying  him  with  admiration. 

"  Oh,  are  these  ribbons  real?  I  thought  I  was 
dreaming,  and  had  a  Fourth  of  July  nightmare." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  here,  Cousin  Jack?  " 
asked  King. 

"  Well,  I  was  waking,  so  I  called  early ;  I  don't 
know  at  what  hour,  but  I've  been  long  enough 
alone,  so  I'm  glad  you  two  young  patriots  came 
down  to  help  me  celebrate.  Polly  want  a  fire- 
cracker? "  He  held  out  a  pack  of  small  ones  to 
Marjorie,  but  she  declined  them. 

"  No,  thank  you ;  give  those  to  King.  I'd 
rather  have  torpedoes." 

"  All  right,  my  girlie,  here  you  are !  And  here's 
a  cap  to  replace  the  ribbons  you  so  kindly  gave 
me." 

Cousin  Jack  drew  from  his  pocket  a  tissue- 
paper  cap,  that  had  evidently  come  in  a  snapping- 
cracker.  Then  he  produced  another  one  for  King, 
and  one  which  he  laid  aside  for  Rosy  Posy.  They 
Were  gay  red,  white,  and  blue  caps,  with  cockades 
and  streamers. 

"  Now,    we'll    be    a    procession,"    he    went    on. 


THE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH  89 

From  a  nook  on  the  veranda,  where  he  had  hid- 
den them,  he  produced  a  drum,  a  tambourine,  and 
a  cornet. 

The  cornet  was  his  own,  and  he  presented  the 
drum  to  King,  and  the  tambourine  to  Marjorie. 

"  Form  in  line !  "  he  ordered ;  "  forward, — 
march !  " 

He  led  the  line,  and  the  two  children  followed. 

Being  a  good  cornet  player,  Cousin  Jack  made 
fine  martial  music,  and  King  and  Midget  had  suf- 
ficient sense  of  rhythm  to  accompany  him  on  the 
drum  and  tambourine.  After  marching  round  the 
house  once,  Cousin  Jack  went  up  the  steps  and 
in  at  the  front  door.  Upstairs  and  through  the 
halls,  and  down  again. 

Nurse  Nannie  and  Rosamond  appeared  at  the 
nursery  door,  and  were  instructed  to  fall  in  line 
behind  the  others.  Then  Sarah,  the  waitress,  was 
discovered,  looking  on  from  the  dining-room,  and 
she,  too,  was  told  to  march. 

At  last  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maynard  appeared, 
laughing  at  this  invasion  of  their  morning  nap. 

They  sat  in  state  in  the  veranda-chairs,  as  on  a 
reviewing-stand,  while  the  grand  parade  marched 
and  countermarched  on  the  lawn  in  front  of 
them. 

"  All  over ! "  cried  Cousin  Jack,  at  last. 
"  Break  ranks  !  " 


90  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

The  company  dispersed,  and  Sarah  returned, 
giggling,  to  her  duties. 

"  Such  a  foine  man  as  Misther  Bryant  do  be !  " 
she  said  to  the  cook.  "  Shure,  he's  just  like  wan 
of  the  childher." 

And  so  he  was.  Full  of  patriotic  enthusiasm, 
Cousin  Jack  set  off  bombs  and  firecrackers,  until 
the  elder  Maynards  declared  that  their  ears 
ached,  and  the  roisterers  must  come  in  to  break- 
fast. 

"  I  must  go  home,"  announced  their  guest.  "  I 
have  a  wife  and  six  small  children  dependent  on 
me  for  support." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Bryants  had  no  chil- 
dren, and  Mrs.  Maynard  declared  she  should  tele- 
phone for  Cousin  Ethel  to  come  to  breakfast,  too, 
so  Cousin  Jack  consented  to  sta}T. 

The  breakfast  party  was  an  unexpected  addi- 
tion to  the  day's  festivities,  but  Mrs.  Maynard 
was  equal  to  the  occasion.  She  scurried  around 
and  found  flags  to  decorate  the  table,  and  tied 
a  red,  white,  and  blue  balloon  to  the  back  of  each 
chair,  which  gave  the  room  a  gay  appearance. 

The  vigorous  exercise  had  produced  good  appe- 
tites, and  full  justice  was  done  to  Ellen's  creamed 
chicken  and  hot  rolls  and  coffee. 

"  Who's  for  a  dip  in  the  ocean?  "  asked  Cousin 
Jack,  when  breakfast  was  over. 


THE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH  91 

All  were  included  in  this  pleasing  suggestion, 
and  soon  a  bathing-suited  party  threw  themselves 
into  the  dashing  white-caps. 

Cousin  Jack  tried  to  teach  Marjorie  to  swim, 
but  it  is  not  easy  to  learn  to  swim  in  the  surf,  and 
she  made  no  very  great  progress.  But  Mr.  May- 
nard  and  Mr.  Bryant  swam  out  to  a  good  dis- 
tance, and  King  was  allowed  to  accompany  them, 
as  he  already  was  a  fair  swimmer. 

Marjorie  held  fast  to  the  rope,  and  jumped 
about,  now  almost  carried  away  by  a  big  wave,  and 
now  thrown  back  toward  the  beach  by  another. 

It  was  rather  rough  bathing,  so  the  ladies  of 
the  party  and  Midget  left  the  water  before  the 
others. 

"Aren't  we  having  fun!"  exclaimed  Marjorie, 
as  she  trudged,  dripping,  through  the  sand,  to 
the  bath-house.  "  Oh,  Cousin  Ethel,  I'm  so  glad 
you  came  down  here." 

"  I'm  glad,  too,  dear.  I  believe  Jack  enjoys 
you  children  more  than  he  does  any  of  his  friends 
of  his  own  age." 

"  Jack's  just  like  a  boy,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard, 
"  and  I  think  he  always  will  be.  He's  like  Peter 
Pan, — never  going  to  grow  up." 

And  it  did  seem  so.  After  the  bath,  Mr.  Bryant 
marched  the  children  down  to  the  pier  for  ice 
cream. 


92  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Mrs.  Maynard  remonstrated  a  little,  but  she 
was  informed  that  Fourth  of  July  only  came  once 
a  year,  and  extra  indulgences  were  in  order. 

So  King  and  Midget  and  Cousin  Jack  went 
gayly  along  the  long  pier  that  ran  far  out  into 
the  ocean.  On  either  side  were  booths  where 
trinkets  and  seaside  souvenirs  were  sold,  and  Cou- 
jsin  Jack  bought  a  shell  necklace  for  Midget,  and 
a  shell  watch-fob  for  King. 

Then  he  ordered  a  dozen  little  tin  pails  sent  to 
his  own  house. 

"  For  my  picnic,"  he  explained,  as  Midget 
looked  at  him  wonderingly.  "  It's  to  be  a  sand- 
pail  picnic,  you  know." 

As  they  neared  the  ice-cream  garden,  Marjorie 
noticed  a  forlorn-looking  little  boy,  near  the  en- 
trance. So  wistful  did  he  look,  that  she  turned 
around  to  look  at  him  again. 

"  Who's  your  friend,  Mehitabel  ?  "  said  Mr. 
Bryant,  seeing  her  glance. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,  Cousin  Jack !  "  she  cried, 
impulsively ;  "  but  he  seems  so  poor  and  lone- 
some, and  we're  all  so  happy.  Couldn't  I  go  with- 
out my  ice  cream,  and  let  him  have  it?  Oh,  please 
let  me!" 

"  H'm !  he  isn't  a  very  attractive  specimen  of 
humanity." 

"  Well,  he  isn't  very  clean,  but,  see,  he  has  a 


93 

nice  face,  and  big  brown  eyes !  Oh,  do  give  him 
some  ice  cream,  Cousin  Jack;  I'll  willingly  go 
without." 

"  I'll  go  without,"  said  King,  quickly ;  "  you 
can  have  mine,  Mops." 

Cousin  Jack  looked  quizzically  at  the  chil- 
dren. 

"  I  might  say  I'd  give  you  each  ice  cream,  and 
the  poor  kiddie  also.  But  that  would  be  my 
charity.  Now,  if  you  two  really  want  to  do  the 
poor  little  chap  a  kindness,  you  may  each  have  a 
half  portion,  and  give  him  a  whole  plate.  How's 
that?  " 

"  Fine!  "  exclaimed  Marjorie;  "  just  the  thing! 
But,  truly,  Cousin  Jack,  it  isn't  much  sacrifice  for 
us,  for  we'll  have  ice  cream  at  the  picnic,  any- 
how." 

"  That's  right,  girlie ;  don't  claim  any  more 
credit  than  belongs  to  you.  Well,  next  thing  is  to 
invite  your  young  friend." 

So  Marjorie  went  over  to  the  poor  little  boy, 
and  said,  kindly : 

"  It's  Fourth  of  July,  and  we'd  like  you  to 
come  and  eat  ice  cream  with  us." 

The  child's  face  brightened  up,  but  immedi- 
ately a  look  of  distrust  came  into  his  eyes,  and 
he  said: 

"  Say,  is  youse  kiddin'  me?  " 


94  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  No,"  said  King,  for  Marjorie  didn't  know 
quite  what  he  meant ;  "  we  mean  it.  We're  going 
to  have  ice  cream,  and  we  want  you  to  have  some 
with  us." 

"  Kin  I  bring  me  brudder?  " 

"  Where  is  he  ?  "  asked  Cousin  Jack,  smiling  at 
this  new  development  of  the  case. 

"  Over  dere,  wit'  me  sister.  Kin  I  bring  'em. 
both?" 

Marjorie  laughed  outright  at  this,  but  Mr. 
Bryant  said,  gravely : 

"  How  many  in  your  entire  family  ?  Let  me 
know  the  worst  at  once !  " 

"  Dat's  all ;  me  brudder  an'  sister.  Kin  they 
come,  too  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  they're  fairly  clean,"  and  the  boy  ran 
to  get  them.  He  came  back  bringing  a  boy  but 
little  smaller  than  himself,  and  a  tiny  girl. 

Though  not  immaculate,  they  were  present- 
able, and  soon  the  six  were  seated  at  a  round 
table. 

Cousin  Jack  conformed  to  his  decree  that  the 
Maynard  children  should  have  but  a  half-portion 
each,  but  he  added  that  this  was  partly  due  to  his 
consideration  for  their  health,  as  well  as  his  will- 
ingness that  the  charity  should  be  partly  theirs. 
But  he  told  his  three  guests  that  they  could  eat 


THE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH  95 

as  much  as  they  chose ;  and  noting  their  generally 
hungry  appearance,  he  ordered  a  first  course  of 
sandwiches  for  them,  which  kindness  was  greatly 
appreciated. 

"  Gee !  Youse  is  a  white  man !  "  exclaimed  the 
oldest  visitor,  as  he  scraped  his  saucer  almost 
through  its  enamel. 

"  What  does  he  mean  ?  "  asked  Midget,  laugh- 
ing. "  Of  course,  you're  a  white  man." 

"  That's  slang,  Marjorie,  for  a  desirable  citi- 
zen." 

"  Funny  sort  of  slang,"  Midget  commented ;  "  a 
white  man  is  plain  English,  isn't  it?  " 

"  I  mean,  he's  white  clear  through,"  volunteered 
the  boy,  whose  quick  eyes  darted  from  one  face 
to  another  of  his  benefactors. 

"  Yes,  I  can  understand  that,"  said  Midget, 
slowly;  "it  just  means  you're  good  all  through, 
Cousin  Jack,  and  I  quite  agree  to  that." 

After  the  small  visitors'  hunger  was  entirely 
appeased,  Cousin  Jack  presented  them  each  with 
a  flag  and  a  packet  of  torpedoes,  and  sent  them 
away  rejoicing. 

"  Poor  little  scraps  of  humanity,"  he  said ;  "  I 
hope,  Mehitabel,  you'll  always  bring  a  little  sun- 
shine into  such  lives  when  opportunity  presents- 
itself." 


96  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"I  will,  Cousin  Jack.     Are  they  very  poor?" 

"  No,  not  so  very.  But  they  never  have  any 
fun,  or  anything  very  good  to  eat.  Of  course, 
you  can't  be  an  organized  charity,  but  once  in  a 
while,  if  you  can  make  a  poor  child  happy  by  the 
expenditure  of  a  small  sum,  do  it." 

"  We  will,"  cried  King,  impressed  by  Cousin 
Jack's  earnestness.  "  But  we  don't  have  much 
money  to  spend,  you  know." 

"  You  have  an  allowance,  don't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  we  each  have  fifty  cents  a  week,  Mops 
and  Kitty  and  I." 

"  Well,  Kitty  isn't  here,  so  I  can't  ask  her ;  but 
I'm  going  to  ask  you  two  dear  friends  of  mine,  to 
give  away  one-tenth  of  your  income  to  charity. 
Now,  how  much  would  that  be?  " 

"  Five  cents  a  week,"  replied  Marjorie. 

"  Well,  will  you  do  it  ?  Every  week  give  a 
nickel,  or  a  nickel's  worth  of  peanuts  or  lemon- 
ade or  something  to  some  poor  little  kiddie  who 
doesn't  have  much  fun  in  life?  And  you  needn't 
do  it  every  week,  if  it  isn't  convenient,  but  lay 
aside  the  nickel  each  week,  and  then  give  a  larger 
sum,  as  it  accumulates." 

"  Sure  we  will,  Cousin  Jack,"  said  King,  and 
Midget  said.  "  Yes,  indeed !  I'll  be  glad  to.  We 
can  most  always  catch  a  poor  child,  somewhere." 

"  Well,  if  not,  just  save  it  up  till  you  do.    You'll 


THE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH  97 

find  plenty  of  opportunities  in  the  winter,  in 
Rockwell,  I'm  sure." 

"  Yes,  sir-ee !  "  said  Midget,  remembering  the 
poor  family  whose  house  burned  down  not  long 
ago.  "  And  I'm  glad  you  advised  us  about  this, 
Cousin  Jack.  I'm  going  to  ask  the  Craig  boys  and 
Hester  to  do  it,  too." 

"  Better  be  careful,  Mehitabel.  I  can  advise 
you,  because  we're  good  chums,  and  I'm  a  little 
older  than  you,  though  I  don't  look  it !  But  I'm 
not  sure  you  ought  to  take  the  responsibility  of 
advising  your  young  friends.  You  might  suggest 
it  to  them, — merely  suggest  it,  you  know,  and 
if  their  agree  and  their  parents  agree,  why,  then, 
all  right.  And  now  home  to  our  own  luncheon. 
I  declare  it  made  me  hungry  to  see  those  children 
eat!" 

Promptly  at  three  o'clock  that  afternoon  the 
Sand  Club  gathered  for  the  Sand-Pail  Picnic.  By 
making  two  trips  the  Maynards'  big  motor  car- 
ried them  all  to  the  picnic  grove,  about  a  mile 
distant. 

Here  Cousin  Jack  provided  all  sorts  of  sports 
for  them.  At  a  target,  they  shot  with  bows  and 
arrows,  and  the  boys  were  allowed  a  little  rifle- 
shooting. 

There  was  that  funny  game  of  picking  up  po- 
tatoes with  teaspoons,  followed  by  a  rollicking 


98  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

romp  at  Blindman's  Buff.  Then  Cousin  Jack 
marshalled  his  young  friends  into  line,  and  they  all 
sang  "  Star-Spangled  Banner,"  and  "  Columbia," 
and  "  America,"  and  cheered,  and  fired  off  mild 
explosives,  and  had  a  real  Fourth  of  July  celebra- 
tion. Then  the  feast  was  brought  on. 

The  children  sat  cross-legged  on  the  grass,  and 
each  one  was  given  a  tin  sand-pail. 

But  instead  of  sand,  the  pail  was  found  to  con- 
tain sandwiches  and  crisp  little  cakes  known  as 
sand-tarts. 

After  these  there  were  served  dainty  little  paper 
pails,  from  a  caterer's,  filled  with  ice  cream. 

"  What  a  lovely  sand  picnic !  "  exclaimed  Mar- 
jorie,  as  she  sat  on  the  sand,  blissfully  disposing 
of  her  ice  cream.  "  I'm  going  to  call  Cousin 
Jack,  The  Sandman !  " 

"  Ho !  a  Sandman  puts  you  to  sleep !  "  cried 
Tom  Craig ;  "  let's  get  a  better  name  than  that  for 
Mr.  Bryant." 

"  Call  him  Sandy  Claus,"  piped  up  Dick,  and 
they  all  laughed. 

<k  A  little  out  of  season,  but  it's  all  right,  my 
boy,"  said  Cousin  Jack.  "  Call  me  anything  you 
like,  as  long  as  you  call  me  early  and  often.  Now, 
shall  we  be  trotting  home  again,  to  continue  our 
revels  ?  " 

With  a  sigh  of  utter  content,  Marjorie  climbed 


THE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH  99 

Into  the  motor,  and  they  went  spinning  home  to 
dress  for  the  "  Reception." 

At  the  reception  more  guests  were  invited,  and 
Bryant  Bower  quite  justified  its  pretty  name. 

Japanese  lanterns  dotted  the  grounds,  and 
hung  among  the  vines  of  the  veranda.  Flags  and 
bunting  were  everywhere,  and  a  small  platform, 
draped  with  red,  white,  and  blue,  had  been  erected 
for  the  receiving  party. 

This  consisted  of  King,  Midget,  and  Rosy 
Posy  in  patriotic  costume. 

King,  as  Uncle  Sam,  presented  a  funny  figure 
with  his  white  beaver  hat,  his  long-tailed  blue  coat, 
and  red  and  white  striped  trousers.  Midget  wore 
a  becoming  "  Miss  Columbia "  costume,  with  a 
liberty  cap  and  liberty  pole  and  flag.  Rosamond 
was  a  chubby  little  Goddess  of  Liberty,  but  she 
preferred  to  run  around  everywhere,  rather  than 
stand  still  and  receive. 

King  and  Midget  did  the  honors  gracefully,  and 
after  all  the  guests  had  assembled,  they  took  seats 
on  the  lawn  to  watch  the  fireworks. 

These  were  of  a  fine  quality,  and  as  the  flower- 
pots and  bombs  burst  into  stars  in  the  sky 
both  children  and  grown-ups  joined  in  loud  ap- 
plause. 

There  was  patriotic  music,  and  more  ice  cream, 
and  when,  at  last,  it  was  all  over,  the  Sand  Club 


100  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

went  together  to  thank  Cousin  Jack  for  the  enter- 
tainment. 

"  Glad  you  liked  it,"  he  said,  heartily ;  "  and 
now,  scamper  home  and  to  bed,  all  of  you,  so  your 
parents  won't  say  I  made  you  lose  your  beauty 
sleep." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

A    REVELATION 

MARJORIE  was  practising. 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon,  and  she  wanted  to 
go  out  and  play,  but  her  hour's  practising  must 
be  done  first.  She  was  conscientious  about  it,  and 
tried  very  hard  to  hold  her  hands  just  right,  as 
she  counted,  one — two — three — four;  one — two — 
three — four. 

Mrs.  Corey,  Hester's  mother,  was  calling  on 
Mrs.  Maynard,  and  the  two  ladies  sat  on  the 
veranda,  just  outside  the  window  near  which  the 
piano  stood. 

Marjorie  did  not  listen  to  their  conversation,  for 
it  was  of  no  interest  to  her,  and,  too,  she  was  de- 
voting all  her  attention  to  her  exercises.  Usu- 
ally, she  didn't  mind  practising,  but  to-day  the 
Sand  Club  was  waiting  for  her,  and  her  practice 
hour  seemed  interminable. 

"  One — two — three — four,"  she  counted  to  her- 
self, when  something  Mrs.  Corey  said  arrested  her 
attention. 

"Your  oldest  daughter?"  Marjorie  heard  her 
exclaim ;  "  you  amaze  me !  " 

101 


102  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Midget  had  no  thought  of  eavesdropping,  and 
as  the  piano  was  near  the  open  window,  surely 
they  could  hear  her  practising,  and  so  knew  she 
was  there. 

But  Mrs.  Maynard  answered,  in  a  low,  serious 
voice,  "  Yes,  my  oldest  girl.  She  is  not  our  child. 
She  is  a  foundling.  We  adopted  her  when  an 
infant." 

"Really?"  said  Mrs.  Corey,  much  interested. 
"  How  did  that  happen?  r' 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard,  "  my  husband  de- 
sired it,  and  I  consented.  She  has  grown  up  a 
good  girl,  but  of  course  I  can't  feel  toward  her 
as  I  feel  toward  my  own  children." 

"  No,  of  course  not,"  agreed  Mrs.  Corey.  "  The 
others  are  all  your  own  ?  " 

"  Yes,  they  are  my  own." 

"  She  doesn't  know  this,  does  she?  " 

"  Oh,  no,  we  have  never  let  her  suspect  it.  She 
thinks  I  am  her  mother,  and  she  thinks  I  love  her 
as  I  do  my  own  children.  But  it  is  hard  for  me 
to  pretend  affection  for  her,  when  I  remember  her 
humble  origin." 

"  Your  husband  ?     Does  he  care  for  her  ?  " 

"  He  feels  much  as  I  do.  You  see,  she  is  not 
of  as  fine  a  nature  as  our  own  children.  Of 
course  he  can't  help  seeing  that.  But  we  both  do 
our  best  for  the  girl." 


A  REVELATION  103 

"  Good  for  you,  Mrs.  Maynard ;  that's  fine !  " 

"  Do  you  really  think  so,  Mrs.  Corey  ?  I'm 
afraid  that " 

But  Marjorie  heard  no  more.  She  had 
stopped  her  practising  at  the  first  words  of  these 
awful  disclosures. 

Not  her  mother's  own  child !  She,  Mar j  orie 
Maynard !  It  couldn't  be  possible !  But  as  the 
conversation  went  on,  perfectly  audible,  though 
not  in  loud  tones,  she  could  no  longer  doubt  the 
truth  of  what  her  mother  was  saying. 

Dreadful  it  might  be, — unbelievable  it  might  be, 
— but  true  it  must  be. 

"  One — two — three — four,"  mechanically  she 
tried  to  strike  the  keys,  but  her  fingers  refused  to 
move. 

She  left  the  piano,  and  went  slowly  up  to  her 
own  room. 

Her  pretty  room  that  her  mother, — no,  that 
Mrs.  Maynard, — had  fixed  up  for  her  with  flow- 
ering chintz  hangings  and  frilly  white  cur- 
tains. 

Not  her  mother!  Who,  then,  was  or  had  been 
her  mother? 

And  then  Marjorie's  calm  gave  way.  She  threw 
herself  on  her  little  white  bed,  and  burying  her 
face  in  the  pillow  she  sobbed  convulsively.  Her 
thoughts  flew  to  her  father, — but  no,  he  wasn't 


104  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

her  father !  King  wasn't  her  brother, — nor  Kitty 
her  sister !  Nor  Rosy  Posy 

It  was  all  too  dreadful.  At  every  fresh  thought 
about  it,  it  grew  worse.  Dear  old  King,  she  had 
never  realized  before  how  much  she  loved  him. 
And  Kitty!  And  Father  and  Mother!  She 
would  call  them  that,  even  though  they  were  no 
relation  to  her. 

For  a  long  time  Marjorie  cried, — great,  deep, 
heart-racking  sobs  that  wore  her  out. 

At  last  she  settled  down  into  a  calm  of  despair. 

"  I  am  going  away,"  she  said,  to  herself.  "  I 
won't  stay  here  where  they  have  to  pretend  they 
love  me !  Oh,  Mother,  Mother!  " 

But  no  one  heard  the  little  girl's  grief.  Mrs. 
Maynard  still  sat  on  the  veranda,  talking  to 
Mrs.  Corey;  King  was  down  at  Sand  Court; 
and  the  nurse  had  taken  Rosamond  out  for  a 
walk. 

"  I  must  go  away,"  poor  Marjorie  went  on ;  "I 
can't  stay  here,  I  should  suffocate!  " 

She  sat  up  on  the  edge  of  her  bed,  and  clasped 
her  hands  in  utter  desolation.  Where  could  she 
go?  Not  to  Cousin  Ethel's,  she'd  only  bring  her 
back  home.  Home!  She  hadn't  any  home, — no 
real  home !  She  thought  of  Grandma  Sherwood's, 
but  she  wasn't  her  grandma  at  all!  Then  she 
thought  of  Grandma  Maynard.  That  was  a  curi- 


A  REVELATION  105 

ous  thought,  for  though  Grandma  Maynard 
wasn't  her  own  grandmother,  either,  yet,  a  few 
months  ago,  she  had  begged  Marjorie  to  live 
with  her  and  be  her  little  girl.  Surely  she 'must 
have  known  that  Midget  wasn't  really  her  grand- 
daughter, and  yet  she  had  really  loved  her  enough 
to  want  her  to  live  there. 

Then  Grandma  Maynard  wouldn't  have  to  pre- 
tend to  love  her. 

Clearly,  that  was  the  only  thing  to  do.  She 
couldn't  run  away,  with  no  destination  in  view. 
She  had  no  claim  on  Grandma  Sherwood  or  Uncle 
Steve,  but  Grandma  Maynard  had  wanted  her, — 
really  wanted  her. 

Marjorie  looked  at  the  little  clock  on  her  dress- 
ing table.  It  was  almost  three  o'clock.  She  knew 
there  was  a  train  to  New  York  about  three,  and 
she  resolved  to  go  on  it. 

At  first  she  thought  of  taking  some  things  in 
a  bag,  but  she  decided  not  to,  as  she  didn't  want 
any  of  the  things  the  Maynards  had  given 
her. 

"  Oh,"  she  thought,  while  the  tears  came  afresh ; 
"  my  name  isn't  even  Maynard !  I  don't  know 
what  it  is  !  " 

She  put  on  a  blue  linen  dress,  and  a  blue  hat 
with  roses  on  it.  Some  instinct  of  sadness  made 
her  tie  her  hair  with  black  ribbons. 


106  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

As  she  went  downstairs,  she  heard  Mrs.  Corey 
say,  "  I  am  astounded  at  these  revelations !  "  and 
her  mother  replied,  "  Dear  friend,  I  knew  you 
would  be." 

Marjorie  wasn't  crying  then,  she  felt  as  if  she 
had  no  tears  left.  She  shut  her  teeth  together 
hard,  and  went  out  by  a  side  door.  This  way 
she  could  reach  the  street  unobserved,  and  she 
walked  straight  ahead  to  the  railroad  station.  She 
had  a  five-dollar  gold  piece  that  Uncle  Steve  had 
sent  her  on  Christmas,  and  that,  with  a  little  silver 
change,  she  carried  in  her  pocketbook.  But  she 
left  behind  her  pearl  ring  and  all  the  little  trinkets 
or  valuables  she  possessed. 

She  felt  as  if  her  heart  had  turned  to  stone. 
It  wasn't  so  much  anger  at  Mr.  and  Mrs.  May- 
nard  as  it  was  that  awful  sense  of  desolation, — 
as  if  the  world  had  come  to  an  end. 

At  one  moment  she  would  think  she  missed  King 
the  most;  then  with  the  thought  of  her  father, 
a  rush  of  tears  would  come;  and  then  her  poor 
little  tortured  heart  would  cry  out,  "  Oh,  Mother, 
Motlieri  " 

She  knew  perfectly  well  the  way  to  New  York, 
and  though  the  station  agent  looked  at  her  sharply 
when  she  bought  a  ticket,  he  said  nothing.  For 
Marjorie  was  a  self-possessed  little  girl,  of  good 
manners  and  quiet  air  when  she  chose  to  be.  With 


A  REVELATION  107 

her  ticket  in  her  hand,  she  sat  down  to  wait  for 
the  train.  There  were  few  people  in  the  station 
at  that  hour,  and  no  one  who  knew  her. 

When  the  train  came  puffing  in,  she  went  out 
and  took  it,  in  a  matter-of-fact  way,  as  if  quite 
accustomed  to  travelling  alone. 

Really,  she  felt  very  much  frightened.  She 
had  never  been  on  a  train  alone  Before,  and  the 
noise  of  the  cars  and  the  bustle  of  the  people, 
and  the  shouting  of  the  trainmen  made  her 
nervous. 

And  then,  with  a  fresh  flood  of  woe,  the  remem- 
brance of  why  she  was  going  would  come  over 
her,  and  obliterate  all  other  considerations. 

For  perhaps  half  an  hour  she  kept  the  tears 
back  bravely  enough;  but  as  she  rode  on,  and 
realized  more  and  more  deeply  what  it  all  meant, 
she  could  control  herself  no  longer,  and  burst  into 
a  paroxysm  of  weeping. 

She  was  sitting  next  the  window,  and,  as  there 
were  few  passengers,  no  one  was  in  the  seat  with 
her. 

But  when  she  raised  her  head,  exhausted  by  her 
outburst  of  tears,  a  burly  red-faced  man  sat  be- 
side her. 

"  Come,  come,  little  one,  what's  it  all  about?  " 
he  said. 

His  tone  was  kind,  but  his  personality  was  not 


108  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

pleasant,  and  Marjorie  felt  no  inclination  to  con- 
fide in  him. 

"  Nothing,  sir,"  she  said,  drawing  as  far  away 
from  him  as  possible. 

"  Now,  now,  little  miss,  you  can't  cry  like  that, 
and  then  say  there's  nothing  the  matter." 

Marjorie  wanted  to  rebuke  his  intrusion,  but  she 
didn't  know  exactly  what  to  say,  so  she  turned 
toward  the  window  and  resolutely  kept  looking  out. 

The  trees  and  fields  flying  by  were  not  very 
comforting.  Every  mile  took  her  farther  away 
from  her  dear  ones,  for  they  were  dear,  whether 
related  to  her  or  not. 

She  pressed  her  flushed  cheeks  against  the  cool 
window  pane.  She  was  too  exhausted  to  cry  any 
more.  She  seemed  to  have  only  enough  strength 
to  say,  brokenly,  "  Oh,  Mother,  Mother!  "  and  then 
from  sheer  weariness  of  flesh  she  fell  into  a  troubled 
sleep. 

Meantime  Marjorie  was  missed  at  home.  The 
Sand  Club  grew  tired  of  waiting  for  her,  and 
King  went  up  to  the  house  to  investigate  the  delay. 

He  trudged,  whistling,  up  the  driveway,  and 
.seeing  Mrs.  Corey,  he  whipped  off  his  cap,  and 
greeted  her  politely. 

"  Where's  Midget,  Mother?  "  he  asked. 

"I  don't  know,  son;  isn't  she  with  you?" 

"  No'm,  and  I'm  tired  waiting  for  her." 


A  REVELATION  109 

"  Is  Hester  there?  "  asked  Mrs.  Corey. 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Corey,  Hester's  been  with  us  an 
hour,  and  we're  waiting  for  Mopsy.  She  said  she'd 
come  as  soon  as  she  finished  her  practising." 

"  She  stopped  practising  some  time  ago,"  said 
Mrs.  Corey.  "  I  haven't  heard  the  piano  for  half 
an  hour  or  more." 

"  I'll  bet  she's  tucked  away  somewhere,  read- 
ing !  "  exclaimed  King ;  "  I'll  hunt  her  out !  " 

"  Perhaps  she's  gone  over  to  Cousin  Ethel's," 
suggested  Mrs.  Maynard. 

"  I'll  hunt  her  up,"  repeated  King,  and  he  went 
into  the  house. 

"  Marjorie  Mops  !  I  say  !  Come  out  of  that !  " 
he  cried,  banging  at  the  closed  door  of  her  bed- 
room. 

Getting  no  reply,  he  opened  the  door  and  looked 
in,  but  she  wasn't  there. 

"  You  old  scallywag  Mops ! "  he  cried,  shaking 
his  fist  at  her  empty  room,  "  I  never  knew  you 
to  go  back  on  your  word  before!  And  you  said 
you'd  come  to  Sand  Court  as  soon  as  you 
could !  " 

He  looked  in  the  veranda  hammock,  and  in  the 
library,  and  any  place  where  he  thought  Midget 
might  be,  absorbed  in  a  book;  he  inquired  of  the 
servants;  and  at  last  he  went  back  to  his  mother 

"  I  can't  find  Mopsy,"  he  said. 


110  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Then  she  must  be  over  at  Cousin  Ethel's.  She 
does  love  to  go  over  there." 

"  Well,  she  oughtn't  to  go  when  she's  promised 
to  come  out  with  us.  I  never  knew  old  Midge  to 
break  a  promise  before." 

"Perhaps  Cousin  Ethel  telephoned  for  her," 
suggested  Mrs.  Maynard.  "  Though  in  that  case, 
she  should  have  told  me  she  was  going.  Run  over 
there  and  see,  son." 

"  I'll  telephone  over,  that'll  be  quicker,"  said 
King,  and  ran  back  into  the  house. 

"  Nope,"  he  said,  returning ;  "  she  isn't  there, 
and  hasn't  been  there  to-day.  Mother,  don't  you 
think  it's  queer?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  King,  it  is  a  little  queer.  But  she 
can't  be  far  away.  Perhaps  she  walked  down  to 
the  train  to  meet  Father." 

"  Oh,  Mother,  that  would  be  a  crazy  thimg  to 
do,  when  she  knew  we  were  waiting  for  her." 

"  Well,  maybe  she  went  walking  with  Rosamond 
and  Nurse  Nannie.  She's  certainly  somewhere 
around.  Run  away  now,  King.  Mrs.  Corej  and 
I  are  busy." 

King  walked  slowly  away. 

'*  It's  pretty  queer,"  he  said  to  Hester  and  the 
Craig  boys;  "  Mops  is  nowhere  to  be  found." 

"  Well,  don't  look  so  scared,"  said  Tom ;  "  she 
can't  be  kidnapped.  If  it  was  your  baby  sister, 


A  REVELATION  111 

that  would  be  different.  But  Midget  has  just  gone 
off  on  some  wild-goose  chase, — or  she  is  hiding  to 
tease  us." 

"  Perhaps  she  wrote  to  Kitty,"  suggested 
Hester,  "  and  went  down  to  the  post-office  to  mail 
it." 

"  Not  likely,"  said  King.  "  She  knows  the  post- 
man collects  at  six  o'clock.  Well,  I  s'pose  she  is 
hiding  somewhere,  reading  a  book.  Won't  I  give 
it  to  her  when  I  catch  her!  For  she  said 
she'd  come  out  here,  right  after  her  practice 
hour." 

A  dulness  seemed  to  fall  on  the  Sand  Club 
members  present.  Not  only  was  Marjorie  their 
ringleader  and  moving  spirit,  but  somehow  King's 
uneasiness  impressed  all  of  them,  and  soon  Dick 
Craig  said,  "  I'm  going  home." 

King  raised  no  objection,  and,  after  sitting  list- 
lessly around  for  a  few  moments,  the  others  all 
went  home. 

But  Tom  turned  back. 

"  I  say,"  he  began,  "  you  know  Mopsy  is  some- 
where, all  right." 

"  Of  course  she's  somewhere,  Tom,  but  she  never 
did  anything  like  this  before,  and  I  can't  under- 
stand it.  The  only  thing  I  can  think  of  is,  that 
she's  gone  down  on  the  pier.  But  she  never  goes 
there  alone." 


112  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Well,  there's  lots  of  things  she  might  be  do- 
ing. Come  on,  let's  go  down  on  the  pier  and  take 
a  look." 

The  two  boys  walked  out  to  the  end  of  the  pier 
and  back  again,  but  saw  no  sign  of  Marjorie. 

On  their  way  home,  Tom  turned  in  at  his  own 
house. 

"  Good-by,  old  chap,"  he  said ;  "  don't  look  so 
worried.  Midget  will  be  sitting  up  laughing  at 
you  when  you  get  home." 

King  said  good-by,  and  went  on.  He  felt  a 
strange  depression  of  heart,  as  if  something  must 
have  happened  to  Midget.  He  knew  his  mother 
felt  no  alarm,  and  perhaps  it  was  foolish,  but  the 
fact  remained  that  Midge  had  never  acted  like 
that  before.  Mr.  Maynard  came  home  at  six 
o'clock,  and  Marjorie  had  not  yet  made  an  ap- 
pearance. 

He  looked  very  much  alarmed,  and  at  sight  of 
his  anxiety,  Mrs.  Maynard  grew  worried. 

"  Why,  Ed,"  she  exclaimed,  "  you  don't  think 
there's  anything  wrong,  do  you?  " 

"  I  hope  not,  Helen,  but  it's  so  unusual.  I  can 
only  think  of  the  ocean.  Does  she  ever  go  down 
and  sit  on  the  beach  alone  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  King,  positively ;  "  she  never  does 
anything  like  that,  alone.  We're  always  to- 
gether." 


A  REVELATION  113 

"  And  you  hadn't  had  any  quarrel,  or  any- 
thing?" 

"  Oh,  no,  Father ;  nothing  of  the  sort.  She  went 
to  practise  right  after  luncheon,  and  said  she'd  be 
out  in  an  hour." 

"  I  heard  her  practising,  while  Mrs.  Corey  was 
here,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard,  reminiscently ;  "  but  I 
don't  remember  just  when  she  stopped." 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Maynard,  "  it's  extraordi- 
nary, but  I  can't  think  anything's  wrong  with  the 
child.  You  know  she  always  has  been  mischievous, 
and  I  think  she's  playing  some  game  on  us.  We 
may  as  well  go  to  dinner." 

But  nobody  could  eat  dinner.  The  sight  of 
Midget's  empty  chair  began  to  seem  tragic,  and 
King  choked  and  left  the  table. 

Mrs.  Maynard  burst  into  tears,  and  rose  also. 
Her  husband  followed  her. 

"  Don't  worry,  Helen,"  he  urged ;  "  she's  sure 
to  be  safe  and  sound  somewhere." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,  Ed !  Such  a  thing  as  this 
never  happened  before!  Oh,  find  her,  Ed,  do  find 
her!" 

King  had  run  over  to  the  Bryants'  and  now  re- 
turned, accompanied  by  those  two  very  much 
alarmed  people. 

"  We  must  do  something ! "  exclaimed  Cousin 
Jack.  "  Of  course  something  has  happened  to 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

the  child !  She  isn't  one  to  cut  up  any  such  gam« 
on  purpose.  Have  you  looked  in  her  room?  " 

"  What  for?  "  asked  Mrs.  Maynard,  helplessly. 

"  Why,  to  see  if  you  can  discover  anything  un- 
usual. I'm  going  up !  " 

Mr.  Bryant  flew  upstairs  two  steps  at  a  time, 
and  they  all  followed.  But  nothing  unusual  was 
to  be  seen.  The  pretty  room  was  in  order,  and 
no  clothing  of  any  sort  was  lying  about. 

Mrs.  Maynard  looked  in  the  cupboard. 

"  Why,  her  blue  linen  is  gone !  "  she  said,  "  and 
here's  the  white  pique  she  had  on  at  luncheon.  And 
her  blue  hat  is  gone;  she  must  have  dressed  up  to 
go  out  somewhere  to  call,  and  unexpectedly  stayed 
to  dinner." 

"  Does  she  ever  do  that  ?  "  demanded  Cousin 
Jack. 

"  She  never  has  before,"  answered  Mrs.  May- 
nard, falling  weakly  back  on  Marjorie's  bed. 
"  Why,  this  pillow  is  all  wet !  " 

They  looked  at  each  other  in  consternation. 
They  saw,  too,  the  deep  imprint  of  a  head  in  the 
dented  pillow.  Surely,  this  meant  tragedy  of 
some  sort,  for  if  the  child  had  sobbed  so  hard,  she 
must  have  been  in  deep  trouble. 

"  We  must  find  her !  "  said  Cousin  Jack,  starf » 
ing  for  the  stairs. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE    SEARCH 

IT  was  fortunate  that  the  Bryants  were  there  to 
take  the  initiative,  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maynard 
seemed  incapable  of  action.  Usually  alert  and 
energetic,  they  were  so  stunned  at  the  thought  of 
real  disaster  to  Marjorie  that  they  sat  around 
helplessly  inactive. 

"  Come  with  me,  King,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  going 
to  the  telephone  in  the  library. 

Then  he  called  up  every  house  in  Seacote  where 
Marjorie  could  possibly  have  gone,  and  King 
helped  by  suggesting  the  names  of  acquaintances. 

But  no  one  could  give  any  news  of  the  little 
girl ;  no  one  whom  they  asked  had  seen  or  heard 
of  her  that  afternoon. 

Cousin  Jack's  face  grew  very  white,  and  his 
features  were  drawn,  as  he  said :  "  You  stay  here, 
Ed,  with  Helen  and  Ethel ;  King  and  I  will  go  out 
for  a  bit.  Come,  King." 

Kingdon  said  nothing;  he  snatched  up  his  cap 
and  went  along  silently  by  Mr.  Bryant's  side, 
trying  to  keep  up  with  his  companion's  long,  swift 
•t  rides. 

115 


116  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

To  the  beach  they  went;  it  was  not  yet  quite 
dark,  but  of  course  they  saw  no  sign  of  Marjorie. 

"  Are  you  thinking  she  might  have  been  washed 
away  by  the  waves  ?  "  asked  King,  in  a  quivering 
voice. 

"  That's  all  I  can  think  of,"  replied  Mr.  Bryant, 
grimly. 

"  But  it  isn't  likely,  Cousin  Jack.  Mopsy  is 
really  a  heavyweight,  you  know.  And  there's  not 
a  very  big  surf  on  now." 

"That's  so,  King.  But  where  can  she  be?" 
Then  they  went  and  talked  with  the  fishermen,  and 
then  on  to  the  Life-saving  Station. 

The  big,  good-hearted  men  all  knew  Marjorie, 
and  all  declared  she  had  not  been  on  the  beach 
that  afternoon, — at  least,  not  within  their  par- 
ticular locality. 

Discouraged,  Cousin  Jack  and  King  turned 
down  toward  the  pier.  Their  inquiries  were  fruit- 
less; though  many  people  knew  Midget,  by  sight, 
none  had  seen  her.  There  was  nothing  to  do  but 
go  back  home. 

"Have  you  found  her?"  cried  Cousin  Ethel, 
as  they  entered  the  house. 

"  No ;  but  the  beach  people  haven't  seen  her,  so 
I'm  sure  there's  no  accident  of  that  sort."  Cousin 
Jack  wouldn't  make  use  of  the  word  drowning,  but 
they  all  knew  what  he  meant. 


THE  SEARCH  1    t 

Mrs.  Maynard  sat  staring,  in  a  sort  of  dull 
apathy.  She  couldn't  realize  that  Marjorie  was 
lost,  she  couldn't  believe  an  accident  had  befallen 
her,  yet,  where  was  she? 

"  Let's  search  the  house,"  she  said,  jumping  up 
suddenly.  "  I  must  do  something.  Couldn't  she 
have  gone  somewhere  to  read  quietly,  and  fallen 
asleep?" 

This  was  a  possibility,  and  the  house  was 
searched  from  top  to  bottom  by  eager  hunters. 
But  no  Marjorie  was  found. 

As  it  neared  midnight,  the  ladies  were  per- 
suaded to  go  to  bed. 

"  You  can  do  nothing,  dear,  by  remaining  up," 
said  Mr.  Maynard  to  his  wife.  "  The  Bryants 
will  stay  with  us  to-night,  so  you  and  Ethel  go 
to  your  rooms,  and  King,  too.  Jack  and  I  will 
stay  here  in  the  library  for  a  while." 

King  demurred  at  being  sent  away,  but  his  fa- 
ther explained  that  if  he  wanted  to  help,  all  he 
c:uld  do  was  to  obey  orders.  So  King  went  up- 
{•  ttirs,  but  not  to  his  own  room.  About  an  hour 
L.ter  he  came  down  again,  to  find  his  father  and 
Mr.  Bryant  still  sitting  in  the  library  waiting  for 
morning. 

"  Father,"  said  King,  his  eyes  shining  bright 
beneath  his  tousled  hair,  "  I've  been  rummaging  in 
Midget's  room.  I  thought  I  might  find  out  some- 


i!8  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

thing  to  help  us.  And  she's  taken  her  pocketbook, 
and  the  gold  piece  Uncle  Steve  gave  her  last 
Christmas.  I  know,  because  I  know  where  she 
always  kept  it, — and  it's  gone." 

"  Well,  King,"  said  his  father,  thoughtfully, 
"  what  do  you  make  out  from  that?  " 

"  Only  that  she  has  gone  somewhere  especial.  I 
mean  somewhere  to  spend  that  money, — -not  just 
for  a  walk  on  the  beach,  or  down  to  the  pier." 

"  That's  encouraging,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  "  for 
if  she  went  away  on  some  special  errand,  she's 
more  likely  to  be  safe  and  sound,  somev/here.  Did 
you  notice  anything  else  missing,  King?  " 

"  Not  a  thing.  And  you  know  how  wet  her 
pillow  was.  Well,  I  think  she  heard  about  some 
poor  person  or  poor  family,  and  she  cried  about 
them,  and  then  she  took  her  gold  piece  and  went 
to  help  them." 

"  That's  ingenious,  King,"  said  Mr.  Maynard, 
"  and  it  may  be  true.  I  hope  so,  I'm  sure.  But 
why  should  she  stay  away  so  long  and  not  let  us 
know  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  see,  the  poor  family  may  live  at 
some  distance,  and  not  have  any  telephone,  and 
they  may  be  ill,  or  something,  and  she  may  be 
there  yet,  helping.  You  know  Mopsy  is  awful 
kind-hearted.  Remember  the  Simpsons'  fire?  She 
forgot  everything  else  in  caring  for  them." 


THE  SEARCH 

"  That's  so,  my  son ;  at  any  rate,  it's  th 
comforting  theory  we've  had  yet,  and  I'll 
tell  your  mother  about  it.     It  will  helj 
know." 

Mr.  Maynard  went  away,  and  King 
downstairs. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  bed,  Cousin  Jack,' 
"  I'm  old  enough  now  to  stay  up  with 
in  trouble  like  this." 

"  All  right,  King.    You're  showing  n 
my  boy,  and  I'm  proud  of  you.     No 
between  you  and  me,  I  don't  subsci 
poor-family  theory.     It's  possible,  o 
it  doesn't  seem  probable  to  me." 

"  Well,   then,   Cousin   Jack,   wh 
next?" 

"  We  can't  do  anything  till 
think  we  must  see  the  police." 

"  Oh,  that  seems  so  awful ! ' 

"  I  know,  but  if  it's  the  me 
jorie?  " 

"  Then,  of  course,  we'] 
we  see  them  ?  " 

"  We  can  telephone  as 
pose.     But  I've  little  COB 
the  police  down  here.     T 
the    beach,    but    they'r 
men.5' 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

•ist   the   night   wore   away,   and   daybreak 

telephoned  the  police,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
hem  arrived  at  the  Maynard  house  for 
on. 

T  the  child  well,"  said  one  of  them,  "  I 
\  r  about, — a  well-behaved  little  lady,  but 
i   too.     D'ye  think  she  might  have  been 
now?  " 

-  be,"  said  Mr.  Bryant,  "  though  she's 
*or  that.      And,   too,   she   took  extra 
i  er." 
1    may   have   been    goin'    somewhere 

I  never  thought  of  that ! "  and 
•ost  smiled. 

mid  she  go?"  said  Mr.   May- 
She  never  travelled  alone,  and 
mischievous,    sometimes,    she 
run  away." 

away  to  begin  their  quest, 
i  ?ir  guests  went  to  break- 

g,  yet  each  urged  the 
<i» 

Tjuired  baby  Rosamond, 
ay?» 
in  Jack,  for  no  one  else 


THE  SEARCH  121 

could  speak.  "  Middy's  gone  away  for  a  little 
while." 

"  I  know,"  said  the  child,  contentedly,  "  Middy 
gone  to  Gramma's  to  see  Kitty !  " 

"  Why,  perhaps  she  did !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  May- 
nard. 

But  Mrs.  Maynard  had  no  such  hope.  It  was 
too  unlike  Marjorie  to  do  such  a  thing. 

"  Well,  let's  find  out,"  urged  King.  "  Let's  get 
Uncle  Steve  on  the  long-distance  wire." 

"  Don't  alarm  Grandma,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard. 
"  There's  no  use  stirring  her  up,  until  we  know 
ourselves  what  has  happened." 

"  Leave  it  to  me,"  said  Cousin  Jack.  "  I'll  find 
out." 

After  some  delay,  he  succeeded  in  getting  Uncle 
Steve  on  the  telephone.  Then  he  asked  for 
Kitty. 

"  Hello,  Susannah !  "  he  cried,  assuming  a  merry 
voice,  in  his  kind  desire  not  to  alarm  her.  "  This 
is  your  Cousin  Jack !  " 

"  Oh,  hello,  Cousin  Jack ! "  exclaimed  Kitty,  in 
delight.  "  How  nice  of  you  to  call  me  up !  How 
is  everybody  ?  " 

"  We're  well,  thank  you !    How  are  you  all  ?  " 

"  Oh,  we're  all  right." 

"  Are  you  lonesome,  away  from  your  family  ?  " 

"  No,  not  lonesome,  though  I'd  like  to  see  them. 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Tell  Midget  there  are  two  hundred  incubator 
chicks  now." 

"  Well,  that  is  a  lot !  Now,  good-by,  Kitsie ; 
I  can't  run  up  too  big  a  telephone  bill  for  your 
father.  We  all  send  love.  Be  a  good  girl. 
Good-by." 

Cousin  Jack  hung  up  the  receiver  and  buried 
his  face  in  his  hands.  It  had  been  a  great  strain 
on  his  nerves  to  appear  gay  and  carefree  to  Kitty, 
arid  the  implied  assurance  that  Marjorie  was  not 
there  nearly  made  him  give  way. 

"  She  isn't  there,"  he  said,  dully,  as  he  repeated 
to  the  family  what  Kitty  had  said.  And  then  the 
telephone  rang,  and  it  was  the  police  department. 

Mr.  Maynard  took  the  receiver. 

"  We've  traced  her,"  came  the  news,  and  the 
father's  face  grew  white  with  suspense.  "  She 
bought  a  ticket  to  New  York,  and  went  there  on 
the  three-o'clock  train  yesterday  afternoon. 
Nothing  further  is  known,  as  yet,  but  as  soon  as 
we  can  get  in  touch  with  the  conductor  of  that 
train,  we  will." 

"  New  York !  Impossible !  "  cried  Cousin  Ethel, 
when  she  heard  the  message,  and  Mrs.  Maynard 
fainted  away. 

Marjorie !  on  a  train,  going  to  New  York  alone ! 

"  Come  on,  King,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  abruptly, 
and  leaving  the  others  to  care  for  Mrs.  Maynard, 


THE  SEARCH  123 

these  two  strode  off  again.  Straight  to  the  rail- 
road station  they  went  to  interview  the  agent  them- 
selves. 

He  corroborated  the  story.  He  did  not  know 
Marjorie's  name,  but  he  described  the  child  so  ex- 
actly that  there  was  no  room  for  doubt  of  her 
identity. 

But  he  could  tell  them  no  more.  She  had  bought 
her  ticket  and  taken  the  train  in  a  quiet,  matter- 
of-fact  way,  as  any  passenger  would  do. 

"  Did  she  look  as  if  she  had  been  crying?  "  asked 
King,  almost  crying  himself. 

"  Why,  yes,  now  you  speak  of  it,  her  face  did 
look  so.  Her  eyes  was  red,  and  she  looked  sorter 
sad.  But  she  didn't  say  nothin',  'cept  to  ask  for 
a  ticket  to  New  York." 

"  Return  ticket?  "  put  in  Mr.  Bryant. 

"  No,  sir ;  a  single  ticket.     Just  one  way." 

The  conductor  couldn't  be  seen  until  afternoon,, 
as  his  run  was  a  long  one,  and  his  home  far 
away. 

"  I  can't  understand  it,"  said  King,  as  they 
walked  homeward ;  "  and  I  can't  believe  it.  If" 
Midget  went  to  New  York  alone,  she  had  lost  her 
mind,— that's  all." 

But  when  they  reached  home,  they  found  the 
Maynards  quite  hopeful.  It  had  occurred  to 
them  that,  by  some  strange  freak,  Marjorie  had 


124  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

decided  to  visit  Grandma  Maynard,  and  had 
started  off  there  alone. 

"  I'm  trying  to  get  them  on  the  long-distance," 
Mr.  Maynard  announced,  quite  cheerily,  as  they 
entered. 

"  Let  me  take  it,"  said  Cousin  Jack.  "  If  she 
isn't  there,  we  don't  want  to  alarm  them,  either." 

"  That's  so !  "  said  Mr.  Maynard.  "  All  right, 
Jack,  take  it.  Bless  you,  old  fellow,  for  your 
help." 

But  when  connection  had  been  made,  and  Cousin 
Jack  found  himself  in  communication  with 
Grandma  Maynard,  he  didn't  know  what  to  say. 
He  caught  at  the  first  pretext  he  could  think  of, 
and  said: 

"How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  Maynard?  You  don't 
know  me,  but  I'm  Jack  Bryant,  a  guest  at  £d 
Maynard's  house  in  Seacote.  Now,  won't  you  tell 
me  when  Marjorie's  birthday  comes?  " 

"  Ah,  I've  heard  of  you,  Mr.  Bryant,"  said 
Grandma  Maynard,  pleasantly.  "  I  suppose  you 
want  to  surprise  the  child  with  a  present  or  a 
party.  Well,  her  birthday  is  next  week, — the 
fifteenth  of  July." 

"  Oh,  thank  you.  She  is  getting  a  big  girl,  isn't 
she?  When, — when  did  you  see  her  last?  " 

Cousin  Jack's  voice  faltered,  but  the  unsuspect- 
ing lady,  listening,  didn't  notice  it. 


THE  SEARCH 

"  About  two  months  ago.  They  were  here  in 
Hay.  I  love  Marjorie,  and  I  wish  I  could  see  her 
jgain,  but  there's  little  hope  of  it.  She  wrote  to 
are  last  week  that  they  would  be  in  Seacote  all 
Simmer." 

"  Yes,  that  is  their  pla»,"  said  Cousin  Jack. 

He  could  say  no  more,  aLd  dropped  the  receiver 
without  even  a  good-by. 

But  though  Grandma  Maynaixl  might  think 
him  rude  or  uncourteous,  she  could  not  feel  fright- 
ened or  alarmed  for  Marjorie's  safety,  because  of 
Anything  he  had  said. 

"  She  isn't  there,"  he  said,  quietly ;  "  but  I  still 
think  she  started  for  there,  and  now  we  have  a 
direction  in  which  to  look." 

But  what  a  direction!  Marjorie,  alone,  going 
lo  New  York,  endeavoring  to  find  Grandma  May- 
fcard's  house,  and  not  getting  there !  Where  had 
she  been  all  night?  Where  was  she  now? 

There  were  no  answers  to  these  questions.  And 
fcow  Mr.  Maynard  took  the  helm.  He  cast  off  the 
apathy  that  had  seemed  to  paralyze  him,  and, 
rising,  he  began  to  talk  quickly. 

"  Helen,"  he  said,  "  try  to  rouse  yourself,  dar- 
ling. Keep  up  a  good  hope,  and  be  brave,  as  you 
have  always  been.  King,  I  am  going  out  to  find 
Marjorie.  You  cannot  go  with  me,  for  I  want  to 
leave  your  mother  in  your  care.  You  have  proved 


126  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

yourself  manly  in  your  search  for  your  sister, 
continue  to^  do  so  in  caring  for  your  mother. 
Ethel,  I'd  be  glad  if  you  would  stay  here  with 
Helen,  and,  Jack, — will  you  come  with  me?  " 

**  Of  course,"  replied  Mr.  Bryant. 

"  And,  King,"  his  father  went  on,  "  keep  within 
sound  of  the  telephone.  I  may  call  you  at  any 
moment.  Get  your  sleep,  my  boy, — if  I  should 
be  gone  over  night, — but  sleep  here  on  the  library 
conch,  and  then  the  bell  will  waken  you." 

"  Yes,  Father,  I'll  look  after  Mother,  and  I'll  be 
aright  here  if  you  call  me.  Where  are  you  going?  " 

*6 1  don't  know,  my  son.  I  only  know  I  must 
Jumt  for  Marjorie  with  such  help  and  such  advice 
as  I  can  procure.  Come  on,  Jack." 

After  affectionate  farewells,  the  two  men  went 
fcway. 

**  First  for  that  conductor,"  said  Mr.  Maynard. 
*  I  cannot  wait  till  afternoon ;  I  shall  try  to  reach 
l*im  by  telephone  or  go  to  his  home." 

At  length  he  learned  that  the  conductor  lived 
In  Asbury  Park.  He  was  off  duty  at  that  hour, 
and  Mr.  Maynard  tried  to  get  him  by  telephone, 
but  the  line  was  out  of  order. 

**To  his  house  we  go,  then,"  and  the  two  men 
boarded  the  first  possible  train. 

At  Asbury  Park  they  found  his  house,  but  the 
conductor's  wife,  Mrs.  Fischer,  said  her  husband 


THE  SEARCH  12T 

was  asleep  and  she  never  disturbed  him  at  thai 
hour  of  the  day,  as  he  had  a  long  run  before  him, 
and  needed  his  rest. 

But  after  a  few  words  of  explanation  of  their 
quest,  the  good  lady  became  sympathetic  and 
helpful. 

"  Of  course  I'll  call  him,"  she  cried ;  "  oh,  tbft 
poor  mother  !  my  heart  aches  for  her  1 " 

Mr.  Fischer  came  downstairs,  rubbing  his  eyes. 
It  was  about  noon,  and  he  was  accustomed  to  sleep 
soundly  until  two  o'clock. 

"  Why,  yes,"  he  said,  in  answer  to  their  queries. 
"  I  remember  that  girl.  I  didn't  think  much  about 
her, — for  a  good  many  children  travel  alone  be- 
tween stations  on  the  shore  road.  But,  somehow, 
I  don't  think  that  child  went  to  New  York, — no, 
I  don't  think  she  did." 

"  Where  did  she  get  off?  "  asked  Mr.  Maynarti, 
eagerly. 

"  Ah,  that  I  don't  know.  You  see,  the  summer 
crowds  are  travelling  now  and  I  don't  notice  in- 
dividuals much." 

"  Can't  you  tell  by  your  tickets  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
Bryant. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  don't  see's  I  can.  You  know,  lots 
of  people  did  go  to  New  York  on  my  train,  and 
so,  I've  lots  of  New  York  tickets,  but  of  course  I 
couldn't  tell  if  I  had  hers.  And  yet, — seems  to 


A£8  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

me, — just  seems  to  me, — that  child  got  off  at  £ 
way  station." 

"  Then,"  said  Mr.  Maynard,  with  a  business, 
like  air,  "  I  must  telephone  or  telegraph  or  gC 
personally  to  every  way  station  between  Sea  colt 
and  New  York.  It's  a  strange  case.  I  can  onlj 
think  my  daughter  became  suddenly  demented ;  I 
can  think  of  no  other  reason  for  her  conduct. 
Can  you,  Jack?  " 

"  No,  Ed,  I  can't.  And  yet,  Marjorie  is  a 
child  who  always  does  unexpected  things.  Som« 
crotchet  or  whimsey  of  her  childish  mind  night 
account  for  this  strange  freak,  quite  naturally." 

"  I  can't  see  how.  But  we  will  do  what  we  can. 
Good-day,  Mr.  Fischer,  and  thank  you  for  your 
help  and  interest." 


CHAPTER  X 

JESSICA    BROWN 

MEANTIME,  where  was  Marjorie? 

To  go  back  to  where  we  left  her,  in  the  railroad 
train,  she  had  fallen  asleep  from  utter  exhaustion 
of  nerve  and  body. 

But  her  nap  was  of  short  duration.  She  woke 
with  a  start,  and  found,  to  her  surprise,  that  she 
was  leaning  her  head  against  somebody's  shoulder. 

She  looked  up,  to  see  the  red-faced  man  gravely 
regarding  her,  though  he  smiled  as  their  eyes  met. 

"Feel  better,  little  miss?"  he  said,  and  again 
Marjorie  felt  a  strange  repulsion,  though  he  spoke 
kindly  enough. 

Her  mind  was  bewildered,  she  was  nervous  and 
frightened,  yet  she  had  a  positive  conviction  that 
she  ought  not  to  talk  to  this  strange  man.  She 
did  not  like  his  face,  even  if  his  voice  was  kind. 

"  Yes,  thank  you,"  she  said,  in  distantly  polite 
tones,  and  again  she  squeezed  herself  over  toward 
the  window,  and  away  from  her  seatmate.  She  sat 
up  very  straight,  trying  to  act  as  grown-up  as 
possible,  and  then  the  train  stopped  at  a  large 
station.  There  were  crowds  of  people  hurrying 
129 


130  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

and  scurrying  about  on  the  platform,  and  Mar- 
jorie  was  almost  sure  she  had  reached  Jersey 
City,  where  she  knew  she  must  change  for  New 
York. 

She  wanted  to  inquire,  but  the  conductor  was 
not  in  sight,  and  she  didn't  like  to  ask  the  man 
beside  her. 

So  she  rose,  as  if  to  leave  the  car. 

The  red-faced  man  rose  also,  and  stepped  back 
as  she  passed  him.  In  a  moment  she  found  herself 
on  the  platform,  and  the  train  soon  went  on. 
Everything  about  the  station  looked  unfamiliar, 
and  glancing  up,  she  saw  by  a  large  sign  that  she 
"Bras  at  Newark!  She  had  never  before  been  in 
Newark,  though  she  knew  in  a  general  way  where 
it  was.  She  went  uncertainly  into  the  station,  and 
looked  at  the  clock.  It  was  after  five.  Marjorie 
knew  she  could  take  another  train,  and  proceed  to 
Jersey  City,  and  so  to  New  York,  but  her  courage 
had  failed  her,  and  she  couldn't  bear  the  thought 
«f  travelling  any  further. 

And  yet,  how  could  she  stay  where  she  was? 
Also,  she  began  to  feel  very  hungry.  The  ex- 
naustion  caused  by  her  emotional  grief,  and  her 
wearisome  journey,  made  her  feel  hollow  and  faint. 

She  sank  down  on  a  seat  in  the  waiting-room, 
sadly  conscious  of  her  lonely  and  desolate  situa- 
tion. 


JESSICA  BROWN  1SI 

She  tried  to  summon  anew  her  natural  pluck  and 
independence. 

**  Marjorie  Maynard!  "  she  said,  to  herself,  and 
then  stopped, — overwhelmed  by  the  thought  that 
she  had  no  right  even  to  that  name! 

Presently  a  voice  beside  her  said :  "  Now,  little 
miss,  won't  you  let  me  help  you  ?  " 

She  turned  sharply,  and  looked  the  red-faced 
man  in  the  eyes. 

He  didn't  look  very  refined,  he  didn't  even  look 
good,  but  the  sound  of  a  friendly  voice  was  like 
a  straw  held  out  to  a  drowning  man. 

u  How  can  you  help  me  ?  "  she  said,  miserably. 

"  Well,  fust  off,  where've  ye  set  out  fur  ?  " 

The  man  was  uncultured,  but  there  was  a  note 
of  sincerity  in  his  speech  that  impressed  Marjorie, 
now  that  she  was  so  friendless  and  alone, 

"  New  York,"  she  replied. 

"  Why'd~ye  get  out  at  Newark?  " 

"  I  made  a  mistake,"  she  confessed. 

"  An'  what  be  ye  go  in'  to  do  now?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"Ah,  jest  what  I  thought!  An'  then  ye  ask, 
how  kin  I  help  ye?  " 

"Well,  how  can  you?" 

Under  the  spur  of  his  strong  voice,  Marjorie's 
spirits  had  revived  the  least  bit,  and  she  spoke 
bravely  to  him. 


132  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Now,  that's  more  peart-like.  Wai,  in  the  fust 
place  I  kin  take  ye  home  with  me,  an'  my  old 
woman'll  keep  ye  for  the  night,  an'  I  guess  that's 
what  ye  need  most." 

"  Where  do  you  live?  " 

"  'Bout  five  miles  out  in  the  country." 

"  How  do  you  get  there?  " 

"  Wai,  I  ain't  got  none  o'  them  autymobiles,  nor 
yet  no  airship ;  but  I've  got  a  old  nag  that  can  do 
the  piece  in  an  hour  or  so." 

"  Why  do  you  want  to  take  me  home  with  you  ?  " 
asked  Marjorie,  for  she  couldn't  help  a  feeling 
that  there  was  something  wrong. 

"  Why,  bless  your  heart,  child,  bekase  you're 
alone  and  forlorn  and  hungry  and  all  done  out. 
An'  it's  my  privit  opinion  as  how  ye've  run  away 
from  home." 

"  No,  not  that,"  said  Midget,  sadly ;  "  I  haven't 
any  home." 

"  Ye  don't  say  so !  Wai,  wal,  never  mind  fer 
to-night.  You  go  'long  with  me,  an'  Zeb  Geary, 
he'll  look  after  ye  fer  a  spell,  anyhow." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  kindness  now,  and 
Marjorie  looked  up  into  the  man's  red  face  with 
trust  and  gratitude. 

"  I'd  be  glad  to  go  with  you  and  stay  till  to- 
morrow," she  said ;  "  but  first  I  want  to  own  up 
that  I  didn't  'zactly  trust  you, — but  now  I  do." 


JESSICA  BROWN  133 

"  Wai,  wal,  thet  shows  a  nice  sperrit !  Now, 
you  come  along  o'  me,  an'  don't  try  to  talk  nor 
nothin'.  Jest  come  along." 

He  took  Midget's  hand,  and  they  went  down  the 
steps,  and  along  the  street  for  a  block  or  two, 
to  a  sort  of  livery  stable. 

"  Set  here  a  minute,"  said  Mr.  Geary,  and  he 
left  Marjorie  on  a  bench,  which  stood  outside, 
against  the  building. 

After  a  time  he  returned,  with  an  ancient-look- 
ing vehicle,  known  as  a  Rockaway,  and  a  patient, 
long-suffering  horse. 

"  Git  in  back,"  he  said,  and  Marjorie  climbed  in, 
too  tired  and  sad  to  care  much  whither  she  might 
be  taken. 

They  jogged  along  at  a  fair  pace,  but  Mr. 
Geary,  on  the  front  seat,  offered  no  conversa- 
tion, merely  looking  back  occasionally,  as  if 
to  assure  himself  that  his  guest  was  still  with 
him. 

After  a  mile  or  two,  Marjorie  began  to  think 
more  coherently. 

She  wondered  what  she  would  have  done  if  she 
hadn't  chanced  to  fall  in  with  this  kind,  if  rough, 
friend. 

She  wondered  whether  she  could  ever  have 
reached  Grandma  Maynard's  house  in  safety,  for 
the  crowds  and  confusion  were  much  worse  than 


134  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

she  had  anticipated,  and  in  New  York  they  would 
be  worse  still. 

At  any  rate,  she  would  gladly  accept  shelter 
and  hospitality  for  the  night,  and  continue  her 
journey  next  day,  during  the  earlier  hours. 

It  was  well  after  six  o'clock  when  the  jogging 
old  horse  turned  into  a  lane,  and  finally  stopped 
at  a  somewhat  tumble-down  porch.  An  old  woman 
appeared  in  the  doorway,  wiping  her  hands  on  her 
apron. 

"  Wai,  Zeb,"  she  called  out,  "  did  ye  get  back?  " 

"  Yes,  Sary,  an*  I  brought  ye  a  visitor  for  the 
night." 

"  A  what !  Wai,  I  do  declar' !  "  and  Mrs.  Geary 
stepped  down  and  peered  into  the  back  seat  of 
the  Rockaway.  "  Who  in  creation  is  that  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  returned  her  husband. 

"  Ye  don't  know !  I  swan,  Zeb  Geary,  you  must 
be  plumb  crazy!  Whar  'd  ye  get  her?  " 

"  Thar,  thar,  now,  Sary,  don't  be  askin'  ques- 
tions, but  take  the  pore  lamb  in,  an'  cuddle  her 
up  some.  She's  plumb  beat  out !  " 

"  Come  on,  dearie,"  said  the  old  wife,  who  had 
caught  sight  of  Marjorie's  winsome  face  and  sad 
eyes.  "  Come  along  o'  me, — I'll  take  keer  o'  ye." 

Marjorie  let  herself  be  helped  from  the  rickety 
old  vehicle,  and  went  with  her  hostess,  in  at  the 
kitchen  door. 


JESSICA  BROWN  1J*5 

It  wasn't  an  attractive  kitchen,  such  as  Eliza's, 
at  Grandma  Sherwood's ;  it  was  bare  and  comfort- 
less-looking, though  clean  and  in  good  order. 

"  Now,  now,  little  miss,"  said  Mrs.  Geary, 
hobbling  about,  "  fust  of  all,  let's  get  some  supper 
down  ye.  When  did  ye  eat  last?  " 

"  This  noon,"  said  Marjorie,  and  then,  at  the 
remembrance  of  the  happy,  merry  luncheon  table 
at  Seacote,  she  put  her  head  down  on  her  arms,  and 
sobbed  as  if  she  had  never  cried  before. 

"  Bless  'ee,  bless  'ee,  now,  my  lamb ;  don't  go 
fer  to  take  on  so.  There,  there,  have  a  sup  o* 
warm  milk !  Oh,  my !  my !  " 

In  deference  to  Mrs.  Geary's  solicitude,  Mar- 
jorie tried  hard  to  conquer  her  sobs,  and  had 
finally  succeeded,  when  Mr.  Geary  came  in. 

"  Don't  bother  her  any  to-night,  Mother,"  he 
said,  after  a  sharp  glance  at  Marjorie;  "  she's  all 
on  edge.  Feed  her  up  good,  and  tuck  her  into 
bed." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  here,  my  lamb,  here's  a  nice  soft- 
boiled  egg  for  your  tea.  You'll  like  that,  now  ?  " 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Marjorie,  her  great,  dark 
eyes  looking  weird  in  the  dimly  lighted  kitchen. 

After  a  satisfying  supper,  Mrs.  Geary  took  the 
child  up  to  a  low,  slant-ceiled  room,  that  was  as 
bare  and  clean  as  the  kitchen.  The  old  woman 
bathed  Marjorie's  face  and  hands  with  unexpected 


136  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

gentleness,  and  then  helped  her  to  undress.  She 
brought  a  coarse,  plain  nightgown  of  her  own, 
but  it  was  clean  and  soft,  and  felt  comfortable  to 
the  tired  child. 

Then  she  was  tucked  between  coarse  sheets,  on 
a  hard  bed,  but  so  weary  was  she  that  it  seemed 
comfortable. 

Mrs.  Geary  patted  her  arm  and  hummed  softly 
an  old  hymn-tune,  and  poor  little  Marjorie 
dropped  asleep  almost  at  once. 

"  What  do  you  make  of  it,  Father  ?  "  asked  the 
old  woman,  returning  to  the  kitchen. 

"  She  run  away  from  her  home  fer  some  reason. 
Said  she  hadn't  got  no  home.  Stepmother,  I 
shouldn't  wonder.  We'll  find  out  to-morrow,  an' 
I'll  tote  her  back." 

"  Mebbe  there'll  be  a  reward." 

"  Mebbe  so.  But  we'll  do  our  best  by  her,  re- 
ward or  no.  But  if  so  be  they  is  one,  I'll  be 
mighty  glad,  fer  I  had  pore  luck  sellin'  that  hay 
to-day." 

"  Wai,  chirk  up,  Father ;  mebbe  things'll  grow 
brighter  soon." 

"  Mebbe  they  will,  Sary, — mebbe  they  will." 

In  her  unaccustomed  surroundings,  Marjorie 
woke  early.  The  sun  was  just  reddening  the 
eastern  horizon,  and  the  birds  were  chirping  in 
the  trees. 


JESSICA  BROWN  137 

She  had  that  same  sinking  of  the  heart,  that 
same  feeling  of  desolation,  but  she  did  not  cry, 
for  her  nerves  were  rested,  and  her  brain  refreshed, 
by  her  night's  sleep.  She  lay  in  her  poor,  plain 
bed  and  considered  the  situation. 

"  It  doesn't  matter,"  she  said,  sternly,  to  her- 
self, "  how  bad  I  feel  about  it,  it's  true.  I'm  not 
a  Maynard,  and  never  was.  I  don't  know  who 
I  am,  or  what  my  name  is.  And  I  don't  believe 
I'd  better  go  to  Grandma  Maynard's.  Perhaps  she 
doesn't  know  I'm  not  really  her  granddaughter, 
and  then  she  wouldn't  want  me,  after  all.  For 
I'd  have  to  tell  her.  So  I  just  believe  I'll  earn  my 
own  living  and  be  self-supporting." 

This  plan  appealed  to  Marjorie's  imagination. 
It  seemed  grand  and  noble  and  heroic.  Moreover, 
she  was  very  much  in  earnest,  and  in  this  crisp, 
early  morning  she  felt  braver  and  stronger  than 
she  had  felt  the  night  before. 

"  Yes,"  she  thought  on,  "  I  ought  to  earn  my 
living, — for  I've  no  claim  on  Fa — on  Mr.  May- 
nard. Perhaps  these  people  here  can  find  me  some 
work  to  do.  At  any  rate,  I'll  ask  them." 

She  jumped  up,  and  dressed  herself,  for  she 
heard  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geary  already  in  the  kitchen. 

"  My  stars ! "  said  her  hostess,  as  she  ap- 
peared ;  "  how  peart  you  look !  Slept  good,  didn't 
ye?" 


138  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

**  Fine !  "  said  Midget ;  "  good-morning,  both  of 
you.  Can't  I  help  you  ?  " 

Mrs.  Geary  was  transferring  baked  apples  from 
a  pan  to  an  old  cracked  platter.  Though  unac- 
customed to  such  work,  Marjorie  was  quick  and 
deft  at  anything,  and  in  a  moment  she  had  the 
apples  nicely  arranged  and  placed  on  the  table. 
She  assisted  in  other  ways,  and  chattered  gayly  as 
she  worked. 

Too  gayly,  Mrs.  Geary  thought,  and  she  glanced 
knowingly  at  her  husband,  for  they  both  realized 
Marjorie's  flow  of  good  spirits  was  forced, — not 
spontaneous. 

After  breakfast  was  over,  Midget  said,  "  Now, 
I'll  wash  up  the  dishes,  Mrs.  Geary,  and  you  sit 
down  and  take  a  little  rest." 

**  Land  sake,  child !  I  ain't  tired.  An'  you  ain't 
used  to  this  work,  I  see  you  ain't." 

"  That  doesn't  matter.  I  can  do  it,  and  I  must 
do  something  to  pay  for  my  board, — I  have  very 
little  money." 

"  Hear  the  child  talk !  Wai,  you  kin  help  me 
with  the  work,  a  little,  an'  then  we  must  come  to 
an  understandin'." 

Marjorie  worked  with  a  nervous  haste  that  be- 
trayed her  inexperience  as  well  as  her  willingness, 
and  after  a  time  the  plain  little  house  was  in  order. 

Mr.  Geary  came  in  from  doing  his  out-of-door 


JESSICA  BROWN 

"  chores,"  and  Marjorie  saw  the  "  understandin'  ' 
was  about  to  be  arrived  at.    But  she  was  prepared ; 
she  had  made  up  her  mind  as  to  her  course,  and 
was  determined  to  pursue  it. 

"  Now,  fust  of  all,"  said  Mr.  Geary,  kindly,  but 
with  decision,  "  what  is  your  name?  " 

"  Jessica  Brown,"  said  Marjorie,  promptly. 

She  had  already  assured  herself  that  as  she  had 
no  real  right  to  the  name  she  had  always  used,  she 
was  privileged  to  choose  herself  a  new  one.  Jes- 
sica had  long  been  a  favorite  with  her,  and  Brown 
seemed  non-committal. 

Mr.  Geary  looked  at  her  sharply,  but  she  said 
the  name  glibly,  and  Jessica  was  what  he  called 
"  highfalutin  "  enough  to  fit  her  evident  station 
in  life,  so  he  made  no  comment. 

"  Where  do  you  live?  "  he  went  on. 

"  I  have  no  home,"  said  Marjorie,  steadily;  "  I 
am  a  findling." 

"  A  what?  " 

"  A  findling, — from  the  asylum." 

The  term  didn't  sound  quite  right  to  her, — but 
she  couldn't  think  of  the  exact  word, — and  having 
used  it,  concluded  to  stick  to  it. 

Zeb  Geary  was  not  highly  educated,  but  this 
word,  so  soberly  used,  struck  his  humorous  sense, 
and  he  put  his  brawny  hand  over  his  mouth  to* 
hide  his  smiles. 


140  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Yep,"  he  said,  after  a  moment,  "  I  understand, 
— I  do.  And  whar'd  ye  set  out  f er  ?  " 

"  I  started  for  New  York,  but  I've  decided  not 
to  go  there." 

"Oh,  ye  hev,  hev  ye?  An'  jes'  what  do  ye 
calkilate  to  do?" 

"Well,  Mr.  Geary,"  Marjorie  looked  troubled, 
— "  and  Mrs.  Geary,  I'd  like  to  stay  here  for 
a  while.  I'll  work  for  you,  and  you  can  pay  me 
.by  giving  me  food  and  lodging.  I  s'pose  I 
wouldn't  be  worth  very  much  at  first,  but  I'd  learn 
fast, — you  know, — I  do  everything  fast, — Mother 
always  said  so, — I, — I  mean,  the  lady  I  used  to 
live  with,  said  so.  And  I'd  try  very  hard  to  please 
you  both.  If  you'd  let  me  stay  a  while,  perhaps 
you'd  learn  to  like  me.  You  see,  I've  got  to  earn 
my  own  living,  and  I  haven't  anywhere  to  go,  and 
not  a  friend  in  the  world  but  you  two." 

These  astonishing  words,  from  the  pretty,  ear- 
nest child,  in  the  dainty  and  fashionable  dress  of 
the  best  people,  completely  floored  the  old  coun- 
try couple. 

i;  Well,  I  swan !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Geary,  while 
Mrs.  Geary  said,  "  My  stars !  "  twice,  with  great 
emphasis. 

"  Please,"  Marjorie  went  on,  "  please  give  me 
&  trial ;  for  I've  been  thinking  it  over,  and  I  don't 
see  what  I  can  possibly  do  but  '  work  out.'  Isn't 


JESSICA  BROWN  141 

that  what  you  call  it?  And  if  I  learn  some  with 
you,  I  might  work  out  in  New  York,  later  on." 

"  Bless  your  baby  heart ! "  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Geary,  wiping  her  eyes  which  were  moist  from 
conflicting  emotions.  "  Stay  here  you  shall,  if 
you  want  to, — though  land  knows  we  can't  well 
afford  the  keep  of  another." 

"  Oh,  are  you  too  poor  to  keep  me?  "  cried  Mar- 
jorie,  dismayed.  "  I  don't  want  to  be  a  burden 
to  you.  I  thought  I  could  help  enough  to  pay  for 
my  «  keep.'  " 

"  So  ye  kin,  dearie, — so  ye  kin,"  said  old  Zeb, 
heartily.  "  We'll  fix  it  some  way,  Mother,  at  least 
for  the  present.  Now,  Jessiky,  don't  ye  worrit 
a  mite  more.  We'll  take  keer  on  ye,  and  the  work 
ye'll  do'll  more'n  pay  fer  all  ye'll  eat." 

This  was  noble-hearted  bluff  on  Zeb's  part,  for 
he  was  hard  put  to  it  to  get  food  for  himself  and 
his  old  wife. 

He  was  what  is  known  as  "  shif'less."  He 
worked  spasmodically,  and  spent  hours  dawdling 
about,  accomplishing  nothing,  on  his  old  neglected 
farm. 

But,  somehow,  a  latent  ambition  and  energy 
seemed  to  reawaken  in  his  old  heart,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  make  renewed  efforts  to  "  get  ahead  "  for 
this  pretty  child's  sake.  And  meantime,  if  she 
liked  to  think  she  was  helping,  by  such  work  as 


142  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

those  dainty  little  hands  could  do,  he  was  willing 
to  humor  her. 

Beside  all  this,  Zeb  didn't  believe  her  story.  He 
still  thought  she  had  run  away  from  a  well-to-do 
home;  and  he  believed  it  was  because  of  an  un- 
loving stepmother. 

But  he  was  not  minded  to  worry  the  child  fur- 
ther with  questions  at  the  present  time,  and  it  was 
part  of  his  nature  calmly  to  await  develop- 
ments. 

"  Let  it  go  at  that,  Mother,"  he  advised. 
"  Take  Jessiky  as  your  maid-of-all-work,  on  trial," 
— he  smiled  at  his  wife  over  Marjorie's  bowed 
head, — "  an'  ef  she's  a  good  little  worker,  we'll 
keep  her  fer  the  present." 

"  My  stars ! "  said  Mrs.  Geary,  and  then  sat  in 
helpless  contemplation  of  these  surprising  events. 

"  And  I  will  be  a  good  worker  !  "  declared  Mar- 
jorie,  "  and  perhaps,  sometime,  we  can  sort  of 
decorate  the  house,  and  make  it  sort  of, — sort  of 
prettier." 

"  We  can't  spend  nothin',"  declared  Mr.  Geary, 
"  'cause  we  ain't  got  nothin'  to  spend.  So  don't 
think  we  kin,  little  miss." 

"No,"  said  Marjorie,  smiling  at  him,  "but  I 
mean,  dscorate  with  wild  flowers,  or  even  branches 
of  trees,  or  pine  cones  or  things  like  that." 

A  lump  came  in  Midget's  throat,  as  she  remom- 


JESSICA  BROWN  14S 

bercd  how  often  she  had  "  decorated  "  with  these 
things  in  honor  of  some  gay  festivity  at  home. 

Oh,  what  were  they  doing  there,  now?  Had 
they  missed  her?  Would  they  look  for  her?  They 
never  could  find  her  tucked  away  here  in  the 
country. 

And  Kitty !  What  would  she  say  when  she 
heard  of  it?  And  all  of  them!  And  Mother, — 
Mother! 

But  all  this  heart  outcry  was  silent.  Her  kind  old 
friends  heard  no  word  or  murmur  of  complaint  or 
dissatisfaction.  If  the  forlorn  old  house  were  dis- 
tasteful to  Mar j one,  she  didn't  show  it;  if  her 
room  seemed  to  her  uninhabitable,  nobody  knew  it 
from  her.  She  ran  out  to  the  fields,  and  returned 
with  an  armful  of  ox-eyed  daisies,  and  bunches 
of  clover;  and,  with  some  grapevine  trails,  she 
made  a  real  transformation  of  the  dingy,  bare 
walls. 

"  Well,  I  swan ! "  Mr.  Geary  said,  when  he  saw- 
it  ;  and  his  wife  exclaimed,  "  My  stars ! " 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE    REUNION 

AFTEE  leaving  the  conductor's  house  in  Asbury 
Park,  Mr.  Maynard  and  Mr.  Bryant  went  to  a  tele- 
phone office,  and  pursued  the  plan  of  calling  up 
every  railroad  station  along  the  road  between  Sea- 
cote  and  New  York. 

But  no  good  news  was  the  result.  It  was  dif- 
ficult to  get  speech  with  the  station  men,  and  none 
of  them  especially  remembered  seeing  a  little  girl 
of  Marjorie's  description  get  off  the  train. 

"  What  can  we  do  next?  "  asked  Mr.  Maynard, 
dejectedly;  "I  can't  go  home  and  sit  down  to 
wait  for  police  investigation.  I  doubt  if  they 
could  ever  find  Marjorie.  I  must  do  something." 

"  It  seems  a  formidable  undertaking,"  said  Mr. 
Bryant,  "  to  go  to  each  of  these  way  stations ; 
and  yet,  Ed,  I  can't  think  of  anything  else  to  do. 
We  have  traced  her  to  the  train,  and  on  it.  She 
must  have  left  it  somewhere,  and  we  must  discover 
where." 

Mr.  Maynard  looked  at  his  watch. 

"  Jack,"  he  said,  "  it  is  nearly  time  for  that 
very  train  to  stop  here.  Let  us  get  on  that,  and 
144 


THE  REUNION  145 

we  may  get  some  word  of  her  from  the  trainmen 
other  than  the  conductor." 

"  Good  idea!  and  meanwhile  we'll  have  just  time 
to  snatch  a  sandwich  somewhere ;  which  we'd  better 
do,  as  you've  eaten  nothing  since  breakfast." 

"  Neither  have  you,  old  chap ;  come  on." 

After  a  hasty  luncheon,  the  two  men  boarded 
at  Asbury  Park,  the  same  train  which  Marjorie 
had  taken  at  Seacote  the  day  before.  Conductor 
Fischer  greeted  them,  and  called  his  trainmen,  one 
by  one,  to  be  questioned. 

"  Sure !  "  said  one  of  them,  at  last,  "  I  saw  that 
child,  or  a  girl  dressed  as  you  describe,  get  off 
this  train  at  Newark.  She  was  a  plump  little 
bodjr,  and  pretty,  but  mighty  woe-begone  lookin'. 
She  was  in  comp'ny  with  a  big,  red-faced  man,  a 
common,  farmer-lookin'  old  fellow.  It  struck  me 
queer  at  the  time,  them  two  should  be  mates." 

Mr.  Maynard's  heart  sank.  This  looked  like 
kidnapping.  But  the  knowledge  of  where  Mar- 
jorie had  alighted  was  help  of  some  sort,  at  least. 

After  discussing  further  details  of  her  dress 
and  appearance,  Mr.  Maynard  concluded  that  it 
was,  indeed,  Midget  who  had  left  the  train  at 
Newark  with  the  strange  man,  and  so  he  con- 
cluded to  get  off  there  also. 

"  We're  on  the  trail,  now,"  said  Jack  Bryant, 
cheerily ;  "  we're  sure  to  find  her." 


146  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Mr.  Maynard,  though  not  quite  so  hopeful,  felt 
a  little  encouraged,  and  impatiently  the  two  men 
sprang  off  the  train  at  Newark.  Into  the  station 
they  went  and  interviewed  an  attendant  there. 

"  Yep,"  he  replied,  "  I  seen  that  kid.  She  was 
with  old  Zeb  Geary,  an'  it  got  me,  what  he  was 
doin'  with  a  swell  kid  like  her !  " 

"  Where  did  they  go  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Maynard, 
eagerly. 

"  I  dunno.  Prob'ly  he  went  home.  He  lives  out 
in  the  country,  and  he  takes  a  little  jaunt  down  to 
the  shore  now  and  then.  He's  sort  of  eccentric, — 
thinks  he  can  sell  his  farm  stuff  to  the  hotel  men, 
better'n  any  other  market." 

"  How  can  I  get  to  his  house  ?  " 

"  Wanter  see  Zeb,  do  you  ?  Well,  he  has  his 
own  rig,  not  very  nobby,  but  safe.  I  guess  you 
could  get  a  rig  at  that  stable  'cross  the  way.  An' 
they  can  tell  you  how  to  go." 

"  Couldn't  I  get  a  motor-car?  " 

"  Likely  you  could.  Go  over  there  and  ask 
the  man." 

The  station  attendant  had  duties,  and  was  not 
specially  interested  in  a  stranger's  queries,  so,  hav- 
ing rewarded  him,  as  they  thought  he  deserved,  the 
two  men  hastened  over  to  the  livery  stable. 

"  Zeb  Geary?  "  said  the  stable  keeper.  "  Why, 
jes,  he  lives  five  miles  out  of  town.  He  leaves  his 


THE  REUNION  147 

old  horse  here  when  he  goes  anywhere  on  the  train. 
It's  no  ornament  to  my  place,  but  I  keep  it  for 
the  old  fellow.  He?s  a  character  in  his  way.  Yes, 
he  went  out  last  night  and  a  little  girl  with  him." 

"  Could  we  get  a  motor  here,  to  go  out  there?  " 

"  Right  you  are !  I've  good  cars  and  good 
chauffeurs." 

In  a  few  moments,  therefore,  Mr.  Maynard  and 
Mr.  Bryant  were  speeding  away  toward  Zeb 
Geary,  and,  as  they  hoped,  toward  Marjorie. 

While  the  car  was  being  made  ready,  Mr.  May- 
nard had  telephoned  to  King  that  they  had  news 
of  Marjorie,  and  hoped  soon  to  find  her.  He 
thought  best  to  relieve  the  minds  of  the  dear  ones 
at  home  to  this  extent,  even  if  their  quest  should 
prove  fruitless,  after  all. 

"  I  can't  understand  it,"  said  Mr.  Maynard,  as 
they  flew  along  the  country  roads.  "  This  Geary 
person  doesn't  sound  like  a  kidnapper,  yet  why 
else  would  Midget  go  with  him  ?  " 

"  I'm  only  afraid  it  wasn't  Marjorie,"  returned 
Mr.  Bryant.  "  But  we  shall  soon  know." 

Marjorie  had  worked  hard  all  day.  Partly  be- 
cause she  wanted  to  prove  herself  a  good  worker, 
and  partly  because,  if  she  stopped  to  think,  her 
troubles  seemed  greater  than  she  could  bear. 

But  a  little  after  five  o'clock  everything  was 


148  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

done,  supper  prepared,  and  the  child  sat  down  on 
the  kitchen  steps  to  rest.  She  was  tired,  sad,  and 
desolate.  The  slight  excitement  of  novelty  was 
gone,  the  bravery  and  courage  of  the  morning 
hours  had  disappeared,  and  a  great  wave  of  home- 
sickness enveloped  her  very  soul.  She  was  too 
lonely  and  homesick  even  to  cry,  and  she  sat,  a 
pathetic,  drooped  little  figure,  on  the  old  tumble- 
down porch. 

She  heard  the  toot  of  a  motor-horn,  but  it  was 
a  familiar  sound  to  her,  and  she  paid  no  attention 
to  it.  Then  she  heard  it  again,  very  near,  and 
looked  up  to  see  her  father  and  Cousin  Jack  fran- 
tically waving,  as  the  car  fairly  flew,  over  many 
minor  obstacles,  straight  to  that  kitchen  doorway. 

"Marjorie!"  cried  Mr.  Maynard,  leaping  out 
before  the  wheels  had  fairly  stopped  turning,  and 
in  another  instant  she  was  folded  in  that  dear  old 
embrace. 

"  Oh,  Father,  Father ! "  she  cried,  hysterically 
clinging  to  him,  "  take  me  home,  take  me  home !  " 

"  Of  course  I  will,  darling,"  said  Mr.  Maynard's 
quivering  voice,  as  he  held  her  close  and  stroked 
her  hair  with  trembling  fingers.  "  That's  what 
we've  come  for.  Here's  Cousin  Jack,  too." 

And  then  Midget  felt  more  kisses  on  her  fore- 
head, and  a  hearty  pat  on  her  back,  as  a  voice, 
not  quite  steady,  but  determinedly  cheerful,  said: 


THE  REUNION  149 

"  Brace  up  now,  Mehitabel,  we  want  you  to  go 
riding  with  us." 

Marjorie  looked  up,  with  a  sudden  smile,  and 
then  again  buried  her  face  on  her  father's  shoulder 
and  almost  strangled  him  as  she  flung  her  arms 
round  his  neck.  Then  she  drew  his  head  down, 
while  she  whispered  faintly  in  his  ear.  Three  times 
she  had  to  repeat  the  words  before  he  could  catch 
them: 

"  Are  you  my  father?  "  he  heard  at  last.  The 
fear  flashed  back  upon  him  that  Midget's  mind 
was  affected,  but  he  only  held  her  close  to  him,  and 
said,  gently,  "  Yes,  Marjorie  darling,  my  own 
little  girl,"  and  the  quiet  assurance  of  his  tone 
seemed  to  content  her. 

"  Wai,  wall  an'  who  be  you,  sir?  "  exclaimed  a 
gruff  voice,  and  Mr.  Maynard  looked  up  to  see 
Zeb  Geary  approaching  from  the  barn. 

"  You  are  Mr.  Geary,  I'm  sure,"  said  Cousin 
Jack,  advancing ;  "  we  have  come  for  this  little 
girl." 

"  Wai,  I'm  right  down  glad  on't !  I  jest  knew 
that  purty  child  had  a  home  and  friends,  though 
she  vowed  she  hadn't." 

"  And  you've  been  kind  to  her,  and  we  want  to 
thank  you !  And  this  is  Mrs.  Geary?  " 

"  Yep,  that's  Sary.  Come  out  here,  Mother, 
and  see  what's  goin'  on." 


150  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Out  of  shyness,  Mrs.  Geary  had  watched  pro- 
ceedings from  the  kitchen  window,  but  fortified  by 
her  husband's  presence,  she  appeared  in  the  door- 
way. 

"  They've  been  so  good  to  me,  Father,"  said 
Marjorie,  still  nestling  in  his  sheltering  arms. 

"Wai,  we  jest  done  what  we  could," -said  Mrs. 
Geary.  "  I  knowed  that  Jessiky  belonged  to  fine 
people,  but  she  didn't  want  to  tell  us  nothin',  so 
we  didn't  pester  her." 

"  And  we  ain't  askin'  nothin'  from  you,  neither," 
spoke  up  Zeb.  "  She's  a  sweet,  purty  child,  an' 
as  good  as  they  make  'em.  An'  when  she  wants 
to  tell  you  all  about  it,  she  will.  As  fer  us, — we've 
no  call  to  know." 

"  Now,  that's  well  said !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bryant, 
holding  out  his  hand  to  the  old  man.  "  And,  for 
the  present,  we're  going  to  take  you  at  your  word. 
If  you  agree,  we're  going  to  take  this  little  girl 
right  off  with  us,  because  her  mother  is  anxiously 
awaiting  news  of  her  safety.  And  perhaps,  some- 
time later,  we'll  explain  matters  fully  to  you. 
Meantime,  I  hope  you'll  permit  us  to  leave  with 
you  a  little  expression  of  our  appreciation  of 
your  real  kindness  to  our  darling,  and  our  grati- 
tude at  her  recovery." 

A  few  whispered  words  passed  between  the  two 
gentlemen,  and  then,  after  a  moment's  manipula- 


THE  REUNION  151 

tion  of  his  fountain  pen  and  checkbook,  Mr.  Bry- 
ant handed  to  old  Zeb  Geary  a  slip  of  paper  that 
took  his  breath  away. 

"  I  can't  rightly  thank  you,  sir,"  he  said, 
brokenly ;  "  I  done  no  more'n  my  duty ;  but  if  so 
be's  you  feel  to  give  me  this,  I  kin  only  say,  Bless 
ye  f er  yer  goodness  to  them  that  has  need !  " 

"  That's  all  right,  Mr.  Geary,"  said  Cousin 
Jack,  touched  by  the  old  man's  emotion ;  "  and 
now,  Ed,  let's  be  going." 

Mrs.  Geary  brought  Marjorie's  hat  and  her 
little  purse,  and  in  another  moment  they  were  fly- 
ing along  the  country  road  toward  Newark. 

Marjorie  said  nothing  at  all,  but  cuddled  into 
her  father's  arm,  and  now  and  then  drew  long, 
deep  sighs,  as  if  still  troubled. 

But  he  only  held  her  closer,  and  murmured 
words  of  endearment,  leaving  her  undisturbed  by 
questions  about  her  strange  conduct. 

In  Newark  they  telephoned  the  joyful  news  to 
Mrs.  Maynard,  and  then  took  the  first  train  to 
Seacote. 

All  through  the  two-hour  ride,  Marjorie  slept 
peacefully,  with  her  father's  arm  protectingly 
round  her. 

The  two  men  said  little,  being  too  thankful  that 
their  quest  was  successfully  ended. 

"  But  I  think  her  mind  is  all  right,"  whispered 


152  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Mr.  Maynard,  as  Mr.  Bryant  leaned  over  from 
the  seat  behind.  "  She  has  some  kind  of  a  crazy 
notion  in  her  head, — but  when  she's  thoroughly 
rested  and  wide  awake,  we  can  straighten  it  all 
out." 

The  Maynards'  motor  was  waiting  at  Seacote 
station,  and  after  a  few  moments'  ride,  Marjorie 
was  again  in  the  presence  of  her  own  dear  people. 

"  Mother,  Mother!  "  she  cried,  in  a  strange,  un- 
certain voice,  and  flew  to  the  outstretched  arms 
awaiting  her. 

Though  unnerved  herself,  Mrs.  Maynard  clasped 
her  daughter  close  and  soothed  the  poor,  quivering 
child. 

"Are  you  my  mother?"  wailed  Marjorie,  in 
agonized  tones;  "  are  you?  " 

"  Yes,  my  child,  yes!  "  and  there  was  no  doubt- 
ing that  mother-voice. 

"  Then  why , — why  did  you  tell  Mrs.  Corey  I 
was  a  findling?  " 

"Tell  Mrs.  Corey  what?  " 

"  Why,  when  I  was  practising,  you  were  talking 
to  her,  and  I  heard  you  tell  her  that  you  took  me 
from  an  asylum  when  I  was  a  baby, — and  that  I 
didn't  really  belong  to  you  and  Father?  " 

"  Oh,  Marjorie !  Oh,  my  baby !  "  and  dropping 
into  the  nearest  armchair,  with  Marjorie  in  her 
lap,  Mrs.  Maynard  laughed  and  cried  together. 


THE  REUNION  153 

"  Oh,  Ed,"  she  exclaimed,  looking  at  her  hus- 
band, "it's  those  theatricals!  Listen,  Marjorie, 
darling.  Our  Dramatic  Club  is  going  to  give  a 
play  called  *  The  Stepmother,'  and  Mrs.  Corey 
and  I  were  learning  our  parts.  That's  what  you 
heard !  " 

"Truly,  mother?" 

"  Truly,  of  course,  you  little  goosie-girl !  And 
so  you  ran  away  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  couldn't  stay  here  if  I  wasn't  your 
little  girl, — and  Father's, — and  King's  sister, — 
and  all.  And  you  said  I  was  different  from  your 
own  children  and, " 

"  There,  there,  darling,  it's  all  right  now.  And 
we'll  hear  the  rest  of  your  story  to-morrow.  Now, 
we're  going  to  have  some  supper,  and  then  tuck 
you  in  your  own  little  bed  where  you  belong.  Have 
you  had  your  supper  ?  " 

"  No, — but  I  set  the  table,"  and  Marjorie  began 
to  smile  at  the  recollection  of  the  Geary  kitchen. 
"  You  see,  Mother,  I've  been  maid-of-all-work." 

"  And  now  you've  come  back  to  be  maid-of-all- 
play,  as  usual,"  broke  in  Cousin  Jack,  who  didn't 
want  the  conversation  to  take  a  serious  turn,  for 
all  present  were  under  stress  of  suppressed  emo- 
tion. 

"  I  say,  Mops,  you  ought  to  have  known  bet- 
ter," was  King's  brotherly  comment,  but  he  pulled 


154  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

off  her  black  hair-ribbons  in  the  old,  comforting 
way,  and  Midget  grinned  at  him. 

"  Let's  dispense  with  these  trappings  of  woe," 
said  Cousin  Jack,  dropping  the  black  ribbons  in 
a  convenient  waste-basket. 

So  Midget  went  out  to  supper  without  any 
ribbons,  her  mop  of  curls  tumbling  all  over  her 
head  and  hanging  down  her  shoulders. 

"  My,  but  I'm  hungry ! "  she  said,  as  she  saw 
once  again  her  own  home  table,  with  its  pretty 
appointments  and  appetizing  food. 

"  You  bet  you  are !  "  said  King,  appreciatively ; 
"  tell  us  what  you  had  to  eat  in  the  rural  district." 

"  Boiled  beef,"  said  Midget,  smiling ;  "  and  gin- 
gerbread and  turnips ! " 

"  Not  so  awful  worse,"  commented  King. 

"No?  Well,  s'pose  you  try  it  once!  I  like 
these  croquettes  and  Saratoga  potatoes  a  whole 
heap  better ! " 

"  Well,  I  'spect  I  do,  too.  I  say,  Mops,  I'm 
glad  you  didn't  break  your  word  to  come  out  and 
play, — at  least,  not  intentionally." 

"  No,  I  never  break  my  word.  But  I  guess  if 
you  thought  you  didn't  have  any  father  or  mother 
or  brother  or  sister,  you'd  forget  all  about  going 
out  to  play,  too." 

"  I  haven't  any  brother,"  said  King,  looking 
very  sad  and  forlorn. 


THE  REUNION  155 

"  I'll  be  a  brother  to  you,"  declared  Cousin 
Jack,  promptly ;  "  you  behaved  like  a  man,  last 
night,  old  fello\v, — and  I'm  proud  to  claim  you  as 
a  man  and  a  brother." 

"  Pooh,  I  didn't  do  anything,"  said  King,  mod- 
estly. 

"  Yes,  you  did,"  said  his  mother.  "  You  were 
fine,  my  son.  And  I  never  could  have  lived  through 
to-day  without  you,  either." 

"  Dear  old  Kingsy-wingsy ! "  said  Midget,  look- 
ing at  him  with  shining  eyes.  And  then, — for  it 
was  their  long-established  custom, — she  tweaked 
his  Windsor  scarf  untied. 

As  this  was  a  mark  of  deep  affection,  King  only 
grinned  at  her  and  retied  it,  with  an  ease  and 
grace  born  of  long  practice. 

"Well,  Mehitabel,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  "I  al- 
ways said  you  were  a  child  who  could  do  the  most 
unexpected  things.  Here  you've  been  and  turned 
this  whole  house  upside  down  and  had  us  all  nearly 
crazy, — and  here  you  are  back  again  as  smiling 
as  a  basket  of  chips.  And  yet  you  did  nothing  for 
wThich  any  one  could  blame  you !  " 

"  Indeed  they  can't  blame  her ! "  spoke  up  Mrs. 
Maynard;  "the  child  thought  I  was  talking  to 
Mrs.  Corey,  instead  of  reading  my  part  in  the 
play.  Marjorie  sha'n't  be  blamed  a  bit! " 

"  That's   just  what   I   said,"   repeated   Cousin 


156  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Jack,  smiling  at  the  mother's  quick  defense  of  her 
child ;  "  why,  if  anybody  told  me  I  was  a, — what 
do  you  call  it? — a  findling, — I'd  run  away, 
too!" 

"  Don't  run  away,"  said  Cousin  Ethel,  laughing. 
"  I'd  have  to  run  with  you,  or  you'd  get  lost 
for  keeps.  And  I'd  rather  stay  here.  But  I  think 
we  must  be  starting  for  Bryant  Bower,  and  leave 
this  reunited  family  to  get  along  for  awhile  with- 
out our  tender  care." 

"  But  don't  think  we  don't  realize  how  much  we 
are  indebted  to  you,"  said  Mr.  Maynard,  ear- 
nestly, for  the  two  good  friends  in  need  had  been 
friends  indeed  to  the  distracted  parents. 

"  Well,  you  can  have  a  set  of  resolutions  en- 
grossed and  framed  for  us,"  said  Cousin  Jack, 
"  or,  better  yet,  you  can  give  me  a  dollar  bill,  in 
full  of  all  accounts.  By  the  way,  Mehitabel,  it's 
lucky  you  came  home  from  your  little  jaunt  in 
time  for  your  birthday.  I  incidentally  learned 
that  it  will  be  here  soon,  and  we're  going  to  have 
a  celebration  that  will  take  the  roof  right  off  this 
house ! " 

"  All  right,  Cousin  Jack ;  I'm  ready  for  any- 
thing, now  that  I  know  I've  got  a  father  and 
mother." 

"  And  a  brother,"  supplemented  King,  "  and 
such  a  brother ! "  He  rolled  his  eyes  as  if  in 


THE  REUNION  157 

ecstasy  at  the  thought  of  his  own  perfections,  and 
Marjorie  lovingly  pinched  his  arm. 

"  And  a  couple  of  sisters,"  added  Cousin 
Ethel ;  "  I  like  to  speak  up  for  the  absent." 

"  Yes,  and  two  dearest,  darlingest  cousins,"  said 
Marjorie,  gleefully.  "Oh,  I  think  I've  got  the 
loveliest  bunch  of  people  in  the  whole  world ! " 


CHAPTER  XII 

A    LETTER   OF    THANKS 

"  MOTHER,"     said     Marjorie,     the     next     day, 
"  what  is  a  bread-and-butter  letter  ?  " 

"  Why,  dearie,  that's  a  sort  of  a  humorous 
term  for  a  polite  note  of  acknowledgment, 
such  as  one  writes  to  a  hostess  after  making  a 
visit." 

"  Yes,  that's  what  I  thought.  So  I'm  going  to 
write  one  to  Mrs.  Geary." 

"  You  may,  if  you  like,  my  child ;  but,  you  know 
your  father  gave  those  old  people  money  for  their 
care  of  you." 

"  Yes,  I  know ;  but  that's  different.  And  I  think 
they'd  appreciate  a  letter." 

"  Very  well,  write  one,  if  you  like.  Shall  I  help 
you?" 

"  No,  thank  you.  King  and  I  are  going  to  do 
it  together." 

"What  did  you  call  it,  Mops?"  asked  her 
brother,  as  she  returned  to  the  library,  where  he 
sat,  awaiting  her. 

"  A  bread-and-butter  letter ;  Mother  says  it's 
all  right." 

158 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS  159 

"  Well,  but  you  had  other  things  to  eat  besides 
bread  and  butter." 

"  Yes,  but  that's  just  the  name  of  it.  Now,  how 
would  you  begin  it,  King?  " 

"  '  Dear  Mrs.  Geary,'  of  course." 

"  Well,  but  I  want  it  to  be  to  him,  too.  He  was 
real  nice, — in  his  queer  way.  And  if  he  hadn't 
looked  after  me,  where  would  I  have  been?  " 

"  That's  so.  Well,  say,  '  Dear  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Geary,  both.'  " 

So  Marjorie  began: 

"'Dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geary  Both: 

"  '  This  is  a  bread-and-butter  letter '  " 


"  I  tell  you,  Mops,  they  won't  like  it.  They're 
not  up  in  social  doings,  and  they  won't  understand 
that  bread  and  butter  means  all  the  things.  I 
think  you  ought  to  put  'em  all  in." 

"Well,  I  will  then.     How's  this? 

"  *  — and  a  turnip  letter,  and  a  boiled-beef  let- 
ter, and  a  baked-apple  letter,  and  a.  soft-boiled 
egg  letter.' ' 

"  That's  better.  It  may  not  sound  like  the 
fashionable  people  write,  but  it  will  please  them. 
Now  thank  them  for  taking  care  of  you." 


160  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  '  I  thank  you  a  whole  heap  for  being  so  good 
to  me,  and  speaking  kindly  to  me  in  the  railroad 
train,  when  I  wasn't  so  very  polite  to  you.' ' 

"Weren't  you,  Mops?" 

"  No ;    I    squeezed    away    from    him,    'cause    I 
thought  he  was  rough  and  rude." 
"  Well,  you  can't  tell  him  that." 
"  No ;  I'll  say  this : 

"  '  I  wasn't  very  sociable,  Sir,  because  I  have  been 
taught  not  to  talk  to  strangers,  but,  of  course, 
those  rules,  when  made,  did  not  know  I  would  be 
obliged  to  run  away.' ' 

"  You  weren't  obliged  to,  Midget." 

"  Yes  I  was,  King!  I  just  simply  couldn't  stay 
here  if  I  didn't  belong,  could  I  ?  Could  you  ?  " 

"  No,  I  s'pose  not.  I'd  go  off  and  go  to 
work." 

"Well,  isn't  that  what  I  did? 

"  :  But  you  were  kind  and  good  to  me,  Mr.  Geary 
and  Mrs.  Geary  Both,  and  I  am  very  much  obliged. 
I  guess  I  didn't  work  very  well  for  you,  but  I  am 
out  of  practice,  and  I  haven't  much  talent  for 
houseworking,  anyway.  You  seem  to  have,  dear 
Mrs.  Geary.' 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS  161 

"  That's  a  sort  of  a  compliment,  King.  Really, 
she  isn't  a  very  good  housekeeper." 

"  Oh,  that's  all  right.  It's  like  when  people  say 
you  have  musical  talent,  and  you  know  you  play 
like  the  dickens." 

"  Yes,  I  do.  Well,  now  I'll  finish  this,  then  we 
can  go  down  to  the  beach. 

"  '  And  so,  dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geary  Both,  I 
write  to  say  I  am  much  obliged ' 

"  Oh,  my  gracious,  King,  I  ought  to  tell  them 
how  it  happened.  About  my  mistake,  you  know, 
thinking  Mother  was  talking  in  earnest." 

"  Oh,  don't  tell  'em  all  that,  you'll  never  get  it 
done.  But  I  suppose  they  are  curious  to  know. 
Well,  cut  it  short." 

"  '  You  see,  dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geary  Both,  I 
am  not  a  findling,  as  I  supposed.' ' 

"  That's  not  findling,  Midget, — you  mean 
foundling." 

"  I  don't  think  so.  And,  anyway,  they  mean 
just  the  same, — I'm  going  to  leave  it. 

"  '  I  find  I  have  quite  a  large  family,  with  a  nice 
father  and  mother,  some  sisters  and  a  brother. 
You  saw  my  father.  Also,  I  have  lovely  cousins 
and  four  grand-parents  and  an  uncle.  So  you 


162  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

see  I  am  well  supplied  with  this  world's  goods. 
So  now,  good-by,  dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geary  Both, 
and  with  further  thanks  and  obliges,  I  am, 
"  « Your  friend, 

"  '  MARJORIE  MAYNARD. 

" '  P.S.  The  Jessica  Brown  was  a  made-up 
name.' 

"Do  you  think  that's  all  right,  King?  " 

"  Yep,  it's  fine !  Seal  her  up,  and  write  the 
address  and  leave  it  on  the  hall  table,  and  come 
on." 

And  so  the  "  bread-and-butter  "  letter  went  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geary  both,  and  was  kept  and 
treasured  by  them  as  one  of  their  choicest  pos- 
sessions. 

"  I  knew  she  was  a  little  lady  by  the  way  she 
pretended  not  to  notice  our  poor  things,"  said  old 
Zeb. 

"  I  knew  by  her  petticoats,"  said  his  wife. 

And  so  the  episode  of  Marjorie's  runaway 
passed  into  history.  Mrs.  Maynard,  at  first, 
wanted  to  give  up  her  part  in  the  play  of  "  The 
Stepmother,"  but  she  was  urged  by  all  to  retain 
it,  and  so  she  did.  As  Mr.  Maynard  said,  it  was 
the  merest  coincidence  that  Marjorie  overheard 
the  words  without  knowing  why  they  were  spoken, 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS  163 

and  there  was  no  possibility  of  such  a  thing  ever 
happening  again.  So  Mrs.  Maynard  kept  her 
part  in  the  pretty  little  comedy,  but  she  never  re- 
peated those  sentences  that  had  so  appalled  poor 
Marjorie,  without  a  thrill  of  sorrow  for  the  child 
and  a  thrill  of  gladness  for  her  quick  and  safe 
restoration  to  them. 

And  the  days  hurried  on,  bringing  Marjorie'g 
birthday  nearer  and  nearer. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  July  she  would  be  thirteen 
years  old. 

"  You  see,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  who  was,  as  usual, 
Director  General  of  the  celebration,  "  you  see, 
Mehitabel,  thirteen  is  said  to  be  an  unlucky  num- 
ber." 

"  And  must  I  be  unlucky  all  the  year  ?  "  asked 
Marjorie,  in  dismay. 

"  On  the  contrary,  my  child.  We  will  eradicate 
the  unluck  from  the  number, — we  will  cut  the 
claws  of  the  tiger, — and  draw  the  fangs  of  the 
serpent.  In  other  words,  we  shall  so  override  and 
overrule  that  foolish  superstition  about  thirteen 
being  unlucky  that  we  shall  prove  the  contrary." 

"  Hooray  for  you,  Cousin  Jack !  I'm  lucky  to 
have  you  around  for  this  particular  birthday,  I 
think." 

"  You're  always  lucky,  Mehitabel,  and  you  al- 
ways will  be.  You  see,  this  business  they  call 


164  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Luck  is  largely  a  matter  of  our  own  will-power 
and  determination.  Now,  I  propose  to  consider 
thirteen  a  lucky  number,  and  before  your  birth- 
day is  over,  you'll  agree  with  me,  I  know." 

"  I  'spect  I  shall,  Cousin  Jack.  And  I'm  much 
obliged  to  you." 

"  That's  right,  Mehitabel.  Always  be  grateful 
to  your  elders.  They  do  a  lot  for  you." 

"  You  needn't  laugh,  Cousin  Jack.  You're  aw- 
ful good  to  me." 

"  Good  to  myself,  you  mean.  Not  having  any 
olive-branches  of  my  own,  I  have  to  play  with  my 
neighbors'.  As  I  understand  it,  Mehitabel,  you're 
to  have  a  party  on  this  birthday  of  yours." 

"  Yes,  sir-ee,  sir !  Mother  says  I  can  invite  as 
many  as  I  like.  You  know  there  are  lots  of  girls 
and  boys  down  here  that  I  know,  but  I  don't  know 
them  as  well  as  I  do  the  Craigs  and  Hester.  But 
at  a  party,  I'll  ask  them  all." 

"  All  right.  Now,  this  is  going  to  be  a  Good- 
Luck  Party,  to  counteract  that  foolish  thirteen 
notion.  You  don't  need  to  know  all  about  the  de- 
tails. Your  mother  and  I  will  plan  it  all,  and  you 
can  just  be  the  lucky  little  hostess." 

So  Marjorie  was  not  admitted  to  the  long  con- 
fabs between  her  mother  and  Cousin  Jack.  She 
didn't  mind,  for  she  knew  perfectly  well  that  de- 
lightful plans  were  being  made  for  the  party,  and 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS  165 

they  would  all  be  carried  out.  But  there  was  much 
speculation  in  Sand  Court  as  to  what  the  fun 
would  be. 

"  I  know  it  will  be  lovely,"  said  Hester,  with  a 
sigh.  "  You  are  the  luckiest  girl  I  ever  saw,  Mar- 
jorie.  You  always  have  all  the  good  times." 

"  Why,  Hester,  don't  you  have  good  times, 
too?" 

"  Not  like  you  do.  Your  mother  and  father, 
and  those  Bryants  just  do  things  for  you  all  the 
time.  I  don't  think  it's  fair!" 

"  Well,  your  mother  does  things  for  you, — all 
mothers  do,"  said  Tom  Craig. 

"  Not  as  much  as  Mar j one's.  My  mother  said 
so.  She  said  she  never  saw  anything  like  the  way 
Marjorie  Maynard  is  petted.  And  it  makes  her 
stuck  up  and  spoiled !  " 

"  Did  your  mother  say  my  sister  was  stuck-up 
and  spoiled?  "  demanded  King,  flaring  up  in- 
stantly. 

"  Well, — she  didn't  say  just  that, — but  she  is, 
all  the  same !  "  And  Hester  scowled  crossly  at 
Midget. 

"  Why,  Hester  Corey,  I  am  not ! "  declared 
Marjorie.  "What  do  I  do  that's  stuck-up?" 

"  Oh,  you  think  yourself  so  smart, — and  you  al- 
ways want  to  boss  everything." 

"  Maybe  I  am  too  bossy,"  said  Marjorie,  rue- 


166  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

fully,  for  she  knew  that  she  loved  to  choose  and 
direct  their  games. 

"  Yes,  you  are !  and  I'm  not  going  to  stand  it !  " 

"  All  right,  Hester  Corey,  you  can  get  out  of 
this  club,  then,"  said  Tom,  glaring  at  her  angrily ; 
"  Marjorie  Maynard  is  Queen,  anyway,  and  if  she 
hasn't  got  a  right  to  boss,  who  has?" 

"  Well,  she's  been  Queen  long  enough.  Some- 
body else  ought  to  have  a  chance." 

"  Huh !  "  spoke  up  Dick ;  "  a  nice  queen  you'd 
make,  wouldn't  you?  I  s'pose  that's  what  you 
want !  You're  a  bad  girl,  Hester  Corey !  " 

"  I  am  not,  neither !  " 

"  You  are,  too !  " 

"  Jiminy  Crickets  !  "  exclaimed  King ;  "  can't 
this  Club  get  along  without  scrapping?  If  not, 
the  Club  'd  better  break  up.  I'm  ashamed  of  you, 
Dick,  to  hear  you  talk  like  that !  " 

"  Hester  began  it,"  said  Dick,  sullenly. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  blame  it  all  on  Hester !  "  cried  that 
angry  maiden,  herself ;  "  blame  everything  on  Hes- 
ter, and  nothing  on  Marjorie.  Dear,  sweet,  angel 
Marjorie!  " 

"  Now,  Hester  Corey,  you  stop  talking  about 
my  sister  like  that,  or  7'11  get  mad,"  stormed  King. 
"  She's  Queen  of  this  Club,  and  she's  got  a  right 
to  boss.  And  you  needn't  get  mad  about  it, 
either." 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS  167 

"  You  can  be  Queen,  if  you  want  to,  Hester," 
said  Midget,  slowly.  "  I  guess  I  am  a  pig  to  be 
Queen  all  the  time." 

"No,  you're  not!"  shouted  Tom.  "If  Hes- 
ter's Queen,  I  resign  myself  from  this  Club!  So 
there,  now !  " 

"  Go  on,  and  resign !  "  said  Hester ;  "  nobody 
cares.  I'm  going  to  be  Queen,  Marjorie  said  I 
could.  Give  me  your  crown,  Marjorie." 

Midget  didn't  want  to  give  up  her  crown  a  bit, 
but  she  had  a  strong  sense  of  justice,  and  it  did 
seem  that  Hester  ought  to  have  her  turn  at  being 
Queen.  So  she  began  to  lift  the  crown  from  her 
head,  when  King  interposed: 

"  Don't  you  do  it,  Midget !  We  can't  change 
Queens  in  a  minute,  like  that!  If  we  do  change, 
it's  got  to  be  by  election  and  nomination  and 
things  like  that." 

"  It  isn't !  "  screamed  Hester ;  "  I  won't  have  it 
so !  I'm  going  to  be  Queen !  " 

She  fairly  snatched  the  crown  from  Mar- 
jorie's  head,  and  whisked  it  onto  her  own 
head. 

As  it  had  been  made  to  fit  Midget's  thick  mop 
of  curls,  it  was  too  big  for  Hester,  and  came  down 
over  her  ears,  and  well  over  her  eyes. 

"Ho!  ho!"  jeered  Dick;  "a  nice  Queen  you 
look !  Ho !  ho !  " 


168  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

But  by  this  time  Hester  was  in  one  of  her  regu- 
lar tantrums. 

"  I  will  be  Queen !  "  she  shrieked ;  "  I  will,  I  tell 
you !  " 

"  Come  on,  Mops,  let's  go  home,"  said  King, 
quietly. 

The  Maynard  children  were  unaccustomed  to 
outbursts  of  temper,  and  King  didn't  know  ex- 
actly what  to  say  to  the  little  termagant. 

"  All  right,  we'll  go  home,  too,"  said  Tom ; 
"  come  on,  boys  !  " 

They  all  started  off,  leaving  Hester  in  solitary 
possession  of  Sand  Court. 

The  child,  when  in  one  of  her  rages,  had  an 
ungovernable  temper,  and,  left  alone,  she  vented  it 
by  smashing  everything  she  could.  She  upset  the 
throne,  tore  down  the  decorations,  and  flew  around 
like  a  wildcat. 

Marjorie,  who  had  turned  to  look  at  her,  said: 

"  You  go  on,  King ;  I'm  going  back  to  speak  to 
Hester." 

"  I'm  afraid  she'll  hurt  you,"  objected  King. 

"  No,  she  won't ;  I'll  be  kind  to  her." 

"  All  right,  Midge ;  a  soft  answer  turneth  away 
rats,  but  I  don't  know  about  wildcats !  " 

"  Well,  you  go  on."  And  Marjorie  turned,  and 
went  back  to  Sand  Court. 

"  Say,  Hester,"  she  began  a  little  timidly. 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS  169 

"  Go  away  from  here,  Stuck-up !  Spoiled 
child !  I  don't  want  to  see  you  !  " 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Hester  presented  a  funny 
sight.  She  was  a  plain  child,  and  her  shock  of  red 
hair  was  straight  and  untractable.  Her  scowling 
face  was  flushed  with  anger,  and  the  gold  paper 
crown  was  pushed  down  over  one  ear  in  ridiculous 
fashion. 

Marjorie  couldn't  help  laughing,  which,  natu- 
rally, only  irritated  Hester  the  more. 

"  Yes,  giggle !  "  she  cried ;  "  old  Smarty-Cat ! 
eld  Proudy ! " 

"  Oh,  Hester,  don't ! "  said  Midget,  bursting 
into  tears.  "How  can  you  be  so  cross  to  me? 
I  don't  mean  to  be  stuck-up  and  proud,  and  I 
don't  think  I  am.  You  can  be  Queen  if  you  want 
to,  and  we'll  have  the  election  thing  all  right. 
Please  don't  be  so  mean  to  me !  " 

"  Can  I  be  Queen?  "  demanded  Hester,  a  little 
mollified ;  "  can  I,  really  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  if  the  boys  agree.  They  have  as 
much  say  as  I  do." 

"  They  don't  either !  You  have  all  the  say ! 
You  always  do!  Now,  promise  you'll  make  the 
boys  let  me  be  Queen,  or, — or  I  won't  play !  " 

Hester  ended  her  threat  rather  lamely,  as  she 
couldn't  think  of  any  dire  punishment  which  she 
felt  sure  she  could  carry  out. 


170  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  I  promise,"  said  Marjoric,  who  really  felt  it 
was  just  that  Hester  should  be  Queen  for  a  time. 

"  All  right,  then,"  and  Hester's  stormy  face 
cleared  a  little.  "  See  that  you  keep  your 
promise." 

"  I  always  keep  my  promises,"  said  Marjorie, 
with  dignity ;  "  and  I'll  tell  you  what  I  think  of 
you,  Hester  Corey !  I  think  you  ought  to  be 
Queen, — it  isn't  fair  for  me  to  be  it  all  the  time. 
But  I  think  you  might  have  asked  me  in  a  nicer 
way,  and  not  call  names,  and  smash  things  all 
about !  There,  that's  what  7  think !  "  and  Mar- 
jorie glared  at  her  in  righteous  indignation. 

"  Maybe  I  ought,"  said  Hester,  suddenly  be- 
coming humble,  as  is  the  way  of  hot-tempered 
people  after  gaining  their  point.  "  I've  got  an 
awful  temper,  Marjorie,  but  I  can't  help  it!  " 

"  You  can  help  it,  Hester ;  you  don't  try." 

"  Oh,  it's  all  very  well  for  you  to  talk !  You 
never  have  anything  to  bother  you !  Nothing  goes 
wrong,  and  everybody  spoils  you!  Why  should 
you  have  a  bad  temper?  " 

"Now,  Hester,  don't  be  silly!  You  have  just 
as  good  a  home  and  just  as  kind  friends  as  I 
have." 

"  No,  I  haven't!  Nobody  likes  me.  And  every- 
body likes  you.  Why,  the  Craig  boys  think  you're 
made  of  gold !  " 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS  171 

Marjorie  laughed.  "  Well,  Hester,  it's  your 
own  fault  if  they  don't  think  you  are,  too.  But 
how  can  they,  when  you  fly  into  these  rages  and 
tear  everything  to  pieces  ?  " 

"  Well,  they  make  me  so  mad,  I  have  to !  Now, 
I'm  going  home,  and  I'm  going  to  stay  there  till 
you  do  as  you  promised,  and  get  the  boys  to  let 
me  be  Queen." 

"  Well,  I'll  try "  began  Marjorie,  but  Hes- 
ter had  flung  the  torn  gilt  crown  on  the  ground, 
and  stalked  away  toward  home.  Midget  picked  up 
the  crown  and  tried  to  straighten  it  out,  but  it 
was  battered  past  repair. 

"  I'll  make  a  new  one,"  she  thought,  "  and  I'll 
try  to  make  the  boys  agree  to  having  Hester  for 
Queen.  But  I  don't  believe  Tom  will.  I  know  it's 
selfish  for  me  to  be  Queen  all  the  time,  and  I  don't 
want  to  be  selfish." 

Seeing  Hester  go  away,  Tom  came  back,  and 
reached  Sand  Court  just  as  Midget  was  about  to 
leave. 

"  Hello,  Queen  Sandy !  "  he  called  out ;  "  wait 
a  minute.  I  saw  that  spitfire  going  away,  so 
I  came  back.  Now,  look  here,  Mopsy  May- 
nard,  don't  you  let  that  old  crosspatch  be 
Queen !  " 

"  I  can't,  unless  we  all  elect  her,"  returned 
Midget,  smiling  at  Tom ;  "  but  I  wish  you  would 


172  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

agree  to  do  that.  It  isn't  fair,  Tom,  for  me  to  be 
Queen  all  the  time." 

"  Why  isn't  it  ?  It's  your  Club !  You  got  it  up, 
and  Hester  came  and  poked  herself  in  where  she 
wasn't  wanted." 

"  Well,  we  took  her  in,  and  now  we  ought  to 
be  kind  to  her." 

"  Kind  to  such  an  old  Meany  as  she  is !  " 

"  Don't  call  her  names,  Tom.  I  don't  believe 
she  can  help  flying  into  a  temper,  and  then, 
when  she  gets  mad,  she  doesn't  care  what  she 
says." 

"  I  should  think  she  didn't !  Well,  make  her 
Queen  if  you  want  to,  but  if  you  do,  you  can  get 
somebody  else  to  take  my  place." 

"  Oh,  Tom,  don't  act  like  that,"  and  Marjorie 
looked  at  him,  with  pleading  eyes. 

"  Yes,  I  will  act  like  that !  Just  exactly  like 
that !  I  won't  belong  to  any  Court  that  Hester 
Corey  is  queen  of !  " 

Marjorie  sighed.  What  could  she  do  with  this 
intractable  boy?  And,  she  almost  knew  that  King 
would  feel  the  same  way.  Perhaps,  if  she  could  win 
Tom  over  to  her  way  of  thinking,  King  might  be 
more  easily  influenced. 

"Tom,"  she  began,  "don't  you  like  me?" 

"  Yes,  I  do.     You're  the  squarest  girl  I  ever 


A  LETTER  OF  THANKS 

"  Then,  don't  you  think  you  might  do  this  much 
for  me?  " 

"What  much?" 

"  Why,  just  let  Hester  be  Queen  for  a  while." 

"  No,  I  don't.  That  wouldn't  be  any  favor  to 
you." 

"  Yes,  it  would.  If  I  ask  you,  and  you  refuse, 
I'll  think  you're  real  unkind.  And  yet  you  say 
you  like  me !  " 

Marjorie  had  struck  a  right  chord  in  the  boy's 
heart.  He  didn't  want  Hester  for  Queen,  but  still 
less  did  he  want  to  refuse  Midget  her  earnest  re- 
quest. 

"  Oh,  pshaw !  "  he  said,  digging  his  toe  in  the 
sand ;  "  if  you  put  it  that  way,  I'll  have  to  say 
yes.  Don't  put  it  that  way,  Midget." 

"  Yes,  I  will  put  it  that  way !  And  if  you're  my 
friend,  you'll  say  yes,  yourself,  and  then  you'll 
help  me  to  make  the  other  boys  say  yes.  Will 
you?" 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  so,"  said  Tom,  looking  a  little 
dubious. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THIRTEEN  ! 

MARJOEIE'S  thirteenth  birthday  dawned  bright 
and  clear. 

Her  opening  eyes  rested  on  some  strange  thing 
sticking  up  at  the  foot  of  her  bed,  but  a  fully- 
awakened  glance  proved  it  to  be  a  big  No.  13, 
painted  on  a  square  of  white  pasteboard,  and 
decorated  with  painted  four-leaved  clovers. 

The  motto  "  Good  Luck  "  was  traced  in  orna- 
mental letters,  and  the  whole  was  in  a  narrow 
wood  frame. 

"  That's  my  birthday  greeting  from  Cousin 
Jack  and  Cousin  Ethel!"  Marjorie  said  to  her- 
self ;  "  I  recognize  her  lovely  painting,  and  it's 
just  like  them,  anyway.  I'll  hang  that  on  my  bed- 
room wall,  till  I'm  as  old  as  Methusaleh." 

"Happy  Birthday,  darling!"  said  her  mother, 
coming  in,  and  sitting  on  the  side  of  the  bed ; 
"  many  happy  returns  of  the  day." 

"  Oh,  dearie  Mother !  I'm  so  glad  I've  got  you ! 
and  I'm  so  glad  you're  really  my  very  own  mother ! 
Give  me  thirteen  kisses,  please,  ma'am !  " 

"  Merry  Birthday,  Midget !  "  called  her  father, 
174 


THIRTEEN!  175 

through  the  crack  of  the  door.  "  You  two  had 
better  stop  that  love-feast  and  get  down  to  break- 
fast!" 

So  Marjorie  sprang  up,  and  made  haste  with 
her  bathing  and  dressing,  so  that  in  less  than  half 
an  hour  she  was  dancing  downstairs  to  begin  her 
Lucky  Birthday.  Her  presents  were  heaped 
round  her  plate,  and  the  parcels  were  so  enticing 
in  appearance,  that  she  could  scarcely  eat  for  im- 
patience. 

"  Breakfast  first,"  decreed  her  father,  "  or  I 
fear  you'll  become  so  excited  you'll  never  eat  at 
all." 

So  Marjorie  contented  herself  with  pinching 
and  punching  the  bundles,  while  she  ate  peaches 
and  cream  and  cereal. 

"  Oh,  what  is  in  this  squnchy  one?  "  she  cried, 
feeling  of  a  loosely  done-up  parcel.  "  It  smells  so 
sweet,  and  it  crackles  like  silk !  " 

"  Kitty  sent  that,"  answered  her  mother, 
smiling,  "  and  she  wrote  me  that  she  made  it 
herself." 

But  at  last  the  cereal-saucer  was  empty,  and 
the  ribbons  could  be  untied. 

Kitty's  gift  proved  to  be  a  lovely  bag,  of  pink 
and  blue  Dresden  silk. 

"What's  it  for?"  asked  King,  not  much  im- 
pressed with  its  desirability. 


176  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Oh,  for  anything!  "  cried  Marjorie.  "  Hand- 
kerchiefs,— or  hair-ribbons, — or, — or  just  to 
hang  up  and  look  pretty." 

"  Pretty  foolish,"  opined  King,  but  he  greeted 
with  joy  the  opening  of  the  next  bundle. 

"  Jumping  Hornets !  "  he  exclaimed ;  "  isn't 
that  a  beauty !  Just  what  I  wanted !  " 

"Whose  birthday  is  this,  anyhow?"  laughed 
Marjorie,  as  she  carefully  unrolled  the  tissue- 
paper  packing  from  a  fine  microscope.  Uncle 
Steve  had  sent  it,  and  it  was  both  valuable  and 
practical,  and  a  thing  the  children  had  long  wished 
for. 

"  Well,  you'll  let  a  fellow  take  a  peep  once  in  a 
while,  won't  you?  " 

"  Yes,  if  you'll  be  goody-boy,"  said  Midget, 
patronizingly. 

Grandma  Sherwood's  gift  was  a  cover  for  a 
sofa-pillow,  of  rich  Oriental  fabric,  embroidered 
in  gold  thread. 

"  Just  the  thing  for  my  couch,  at  home,"  said 
Midget,  greatly  pleased. 

"  Just  the  thing  to  pitch  at  you,  after  it  gets 
stuffed,"  commented  King.  "  Go  on,  Mops,  open 
the  big  one." 

The  big  one  proved  to  be  a  case,  from  Mother 
and  Father,  containing  a  complete  set  of  brushes 
and  toilet  articles  for  Marjorie's  dressing-table. 


THIRTEEN !  17T 

They  were  plain  shapes,  of  ivory,  with  her  mono- 
gram on  each  in  dark  blue. 

"  Gorgeous ! "  she  exclaimed,  clapping  her 
hands.  "  Just  what  I  longed  for, — and  so  much 
nicer  than  silver,  'cause  that  has  to  be  cleaned 
every  minute.  Oh,  Mothery,  they  are  lovely,  and 
Fathery,  too.  Consider  yourselves  kissed  thirteen 
hundred  times  !  Oh,  what's  this  ?  " 

"  That's  my  present,"  said  King.  "  Open  it 
carefulty,  Mops." 

She  did  so,  and  revealed  a  pincushion,  but  a  pin- 
cushion so  befrilled  and  belaced  and  beflowered 
one  could  scarce  tell  what  it  was. 

"  I  picked  it  out  myself,"  said  King,  with  ob- 
vious pride  in  his  selection.  "  I  know  how  you 
girls  love  flummadiddles,  and  I  took  the  very  flum- 
madiddlyest  the  old  lady  had.  Like  it,  Mops?  " 

"  Like  it !  I  love  it !  I  adore  it !  And  it  will 
go  fine  with  this  beauty  ivory  set." 

"  Yes,  you'll  have  a  Louis  Umpstecnth  boudoir, 
when  you  get  back  to  Rockwell." 

"  I  shan't  use  it  down  here,"  said  Marjorie, 
fingering  the  pretty  trifle,  "  for  the  sea  air  spoils 
such  things.  But  when  I  get  home  I'll  fix  my 
room  all  up  gay, — may  I,  Mother?  " 

"  I  'spect  so.  It's  time  you  had  a  new  wall- 
paper, anyway,  and  we'll  get  one  with  little  pink 
rosebuds  to  match  King's  pincushion." 


178  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

The  Bryants'  gift  came  next. 

It  was  in  a  small  jeweller's  box,  and  was  a 
slender  gold  neck  chain  and  pendant,  represent- 
ing a  four-leafed  clover  in  green  enamel  on  gold, 
on  one  petal  yf  which  were  the  figures  thirteen 
in  tiny  diamonds. 

"  Oh,  ho !  Diamonds  !  "  cried  King.  "  You're 
altogether  too  young  to  wear  diamonds,  Mops. 
Better  give  it  to  me  for  a  watch  fob." 

"  I'm  not,  am  I,  Father?  "  said  Marjorie,  turn- 
ing troubled  eyes  to  her  father. 

"  No,  Midget.  Not  those  little  chips  of  stones, 
A  baby  could  wear  those.  And  by  the  wa~',  wheire 
is  Baby's  gift?" 

"  My  p'esent !  "  cried  Rosy  Posy,  who  had  sat 
until  now  silent,  in  admiration  of  the  unfolding 
wonders.  "  My  p'esent,  Middy !  It's  a  paluma- 
sol!" 

"  Then  it's  this  long  bundle,"  said  Marjorie, 
and  she  unwrapped  a  beautiful  little  parasol  of 
embroidered  white  linen. 

"  Oh,  Rosy  Posyeums  !  "  she  cried.  "  This  is 
too  booful!  I  never  saw  such  a  pretty  one !  " 

"  Me  buyed  it !  Me  and  Muvver  !  Oh,  it's  too 
booful !  "  and  the  baby  kicked  her  fat,  bare  legs 
in  glee  at  her  own  gift. 

Grandma  and  Grandpa  Maynard  sent  a 
silver  frame,  containing  their  photographs,  and 


THIRTEEN!  179 

Grandma  sent  also  a  piece  of  fine  lace,  which 
was  to  be  laid  away  until  Marjorie  was  old  enough 
to  put  it  to  use.  It  was  her  custom  to  send  such 
a  piece  each  year,  and  Marjorie's  collection  was 
already  a  valuable  one. 

There  were  many  small  gifts  and  cards  from 
friends  in  Rockwell,  and  from  some  of  the  Seacote 
children,  and  when  all  were  opened,  Midget  begged 
King  to  help  her  take  them  to  the  living-room, 
where  they  might  be  displayed  on  a  table. 

And  then  the  Bryants  arrived,  and  the  house 
rang  with  their  greetings  and  congratulations. 

"  Unlucky  Midget ! "  cried  Cousin  Jack. 
"  Poor  little  unlucky  Mopsy  Midget  Mehitabel ! 
Oh,  what  a  sad  fate  to  be  thirteen  years  old,  and 
to  be  so  loaded  down  with  birthday  gifts  that 
you  don't  know  where  you're  at! 

"Mopsy  Midget  Mehitabel  May 
Has  come  to  a  most  unlucky  day ! 
Nothing  will  happen  but  feasting  and  fun, 
And  gifts, — pretty  nearly  a  hundred  and  one! 
Jolly  good  times,  and  jolly  good  wishes, 
A  jolly  good  party  with  jolly  good  dishes. 
Every  one  happy  and  everything  bright, 
Good  Luck  is  here— and  bad  Luck  out  of  sight. 
'Tis  the  luckiest  day  that  ever  was  seen, 
For  Marjorie  Maynard  is  just  thirteen!" 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Jack,  what  a  beautiful  birthday 
poem !  I'm  sure  there  couldn't  be  a  luckier  little 
girl  than  I !  I've  got  everything !  " 


180  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  And  we've  got  you!  "  cried  her  father,  catch- 
ing her  in  his  arms  with  a  heart  full  of  gratitude 
that  she  was  safe  at  home  with  them. 

The  party  was  to  begin  at  four  o'clock,  and 
the  guests  were  invited  to  stay  until  seven. 
In  good  season  Marjorie  was  dressed,  and 
down  on  the  veranda  ready  to  receive  her  little 
friends. 

She  wore  a  pretty,  thin  white  frock,  with  deli- 
cate embroidery,  and  the  pendant  that  had  been 
her  birthday  gift. 

The  family  were  all  assembled  when  she  came 
down,  and  though  it  would  be  half  an  hour  before 
they  could  expect  the  guests,  they  all  seemed 
filled  with  eager  anticipation. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  Midget,  looking 
from  one  smiling  face  to  another. 

"  Nothing,  nothing !  "  said  King,  trying  to  look 
unconcerned. 

"  Nothing,  nothing,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  pulling 
a  wry  face. 

But  Mrs.  Maynard  said,  "  There's  another 
birthday  surprise  for  you,  Marjorie  dear.  It 
has  just  come,  and  it's  in  the  living-room.  Go 
and  hunt  for  it." 

Marjorie  danced  into  the  house,  and  they  al-1 
followed.  She  began  looking  about  for  some 


THIRTEEN!  181 

small  object,  peering  into  vases  and  under  books, 
till  her  father  said: 

"  Look  for  something  larger,  Midget ;  some- 
thing quite  large." 

"  And  be  careful  of  your  frock,"  warned  her 
mother,  for  Midget  was  down  on  her  hands  and 
knees,  looking  under  the  big  divan. 

"  Keep  on  your  feet !  "  advised  King.  "  And 
look  everywhere." 

"  Pooh  !  If  I  keep  on  my  feet,  I  can't  find  any- 
thing big !  "  exclaimed  Midget.  "  Where  could  it 
be  hidden?" 

"  That's  for  you  to  find  out ! "  returned  King. 

"  I'll  give  you  a  hint,"  said  Cousin  Jack. 
"  Turn,  Mehitabel,  turn." 

Marjorie  turned  slowly  round  and  round,  but 
that  didn't  help  her  any. 

"  Turn,  turn,  turn,  turn,"  Cousin  Jack  kept 
saying  in  a  monotone,  and  suddenly  it  flashed  on 
Marjorie  that  he  meant  for  her  to  turn  something 
else  beside  herself. 

She  turned  the  key  of  a  bookshelf  door,  and 
opened  it,  but  found  nothing  but  books. 

"  Turn,  turn,  turn,  turn,"  droned  Cousin  Jack. 

"Oh,"  thought  Marjorie,  "the  closet!"  and 
flying  to  the  door  of  a  large  closet  in  the  room, 
she  turned  the  knob,  the  door  flew  open,  and  there 
she  saw, — Uncle  Steve  and  Kitty! 


182  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Oh,  Kit !  "  she  cried,  and  in  a  moment  the 
two  girls  were  so  tangled  up  that  detriment  to 
their  party  frocks  seemed  inevitable. 

But  they  were  persuaded  to  separate  before 
too  much  damage  was  done,  and  then  Marjorie 
turned  to  greet  Uncle  Steve. 

"  I  daren't  rumple  your  fine  feathers,"  he  said, 
standing  'way  off,  and  extending  his  fingertips  to 
her.  "  But  I'm  terrible  glad  to  see  you,  and  to 
find  that  you've  grown  up  as  good  as  you  are 
beautiful." 

This  made  Marjorie  laugh,  for  she  didn't  think 
she  was  either. 

"  How  did  you  happen  to  come  ?  "  she  cried, 
for  she  couldn't  realize  that  Kitty  was  really  there. 

"  Oh,  it  was  just  a  stroke  of  good  luck,"  said 
Cousin  Jack.  "  You  know  to-day  is  your  lucky 
day." 

"  'Deed  it  is!  "  declared  Marjorie.  "  Come  on, 
Kit,  let's  go  and  sit  in  the  swing  till  the  people 
come  to  the  party." 

The  sisters  had  time  for  a  short,  merry  chat, 
and  then  the  guests  began  to  arrive.  There  were 
about  twenty-five  boys  and  girls,  and  with  the 
grown-ups  this  made  quite  a  party. 

It  was  fun,  indeed,  to  have  both  Cousin  Jack 
and  Uncle  Steve  present,  for  these  two  men  just 
devoted  themselves  to  the  cause,  and  made  so 


THIRTEEN !  183 

much  fun  and  merriment  that  they  seemed  like 
big  children  themselves. 

They  gave  a  burlesque  wrestling  match  on  the 
lawn  that  sent  the  young  people  off  into  peals  of 
laughter.  They  made  up  funny  dialogue,  and 
were  always  playing  good-natured  tricks  on  some 
of  the  children.  Then  Cousin  Jack  said  : 

"  Now  we  will  play  the  Good  Luck  game.  Into 
the  hall,  all  of  you !  " 

The  children  scampered  into  the  hall,  and  on 
the  wall  they  saw  a  large  placard  which  read: 

"  Pins    one 

Hairpins    two 

Four-leafed    clovers    five 

Horse-shoes   ten 

Pennies  fifteen 

Black   cats    twenty-five." 

Each  guest  was  given  a  small  fancy  basket, 
with  ribbons  tied  to  the  handle.  Then  they  were 
instructed  to  hunt  all  the  rooms  on  the  lower 
floor,  the  veranda,  and  the  nearby  lawns,  and 
gather  into  their  baskets  such  of  the  above  men- 
tioned articles  as  they  could  find.  A  prize  would 
be  given  to  the  one  who  had  the  most  valuable 
collection,  according  to  the  values  given  on  the 
placard. 

At  the  word  "  go !  "  they  scuttled  away,  and 


184  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

hunted  eagerly,  now  and  then  stooping  to  pick  up 
a  pin  from  the  floor,  or  reaching  up  to  get  a  horse- 
shoe from  the  mantelpiece.  The  rooms  had  been 
literally  sown  with  the  small  objects;  the  clovers 
and  horseshoes  being  cut  from  pasteboard  and 
painted,  and  the  black  cats  being  tiny  china, 
wooden,  or  bron/e  affairs. 

Cousin  Jack  must  have  had  an  immense  store 
of  these  findings,  for  the  baskets  filled  rapidly,  and 
yet  there  seemed  always  more  to  be  found. 

"How  are  you  getting  along,  Hester?"  asked 
Marjorie  as  she  met  her. 

"  Can't  find  any  hardly.  I  never  have  any 
luck !  I  s'pose  you  have  a  basket  full !  " 

"  Nearly,"  said  Marjorie,  laughing  at  Hester's 
ill-nature  in  the  midst  of  the  others'  merriment. 

"  Say,  Hester,  I'll  tell  you  what !  I'll  change 
baskets  with  you.  Want  to?" 

"Will  you?"  and  Hester's  eyes  sparkled. 
"  Oh,  Marjorie,  will  you?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will,  on  condition  that  you'll  be  nice 
and  pleasant,  and  not  go  around  looking  as  cross 
as  a  magpie !  " 

"  All  right,  give  me  your  basket,"  and  Hester 
put  on  a  very  bright  smile  in  anticipation  of 
winning  the  game. 

"What  did  you  do  that  for?"  asked  Kitty, 
who  saw  the  transfer  of  baskets. 


,  THIRTEEN!  185 

"  Oh,  because.  Never  mind  now,  Kit,  I'll  tell 
you  to-morrow,"  and  Midget  danced  away  with 
Hester's  almost  empty  basket  hanging  from  her 
arm. 

She  picked  up  a  few  more  things  here  and  there, 
and  then  Cousin  Jack  rang  a  bell  to  announce 
that  the  game  was  over.  The  baskets,  each  hav- 
ing its  owner's  name  on  a  card  tied  to  it,  were 
all  put  on  the  hall  table,  and  Mrs.  Maynard  and 
Cousin  Ethel  appraised  the  contents,  while  the 
children  went  to  another  game. 

This  time  Uncle  Steve  conducted  affairs.  Sev- 
eral tables  in  the  living-room  were  surrounded  by 
the  players,  and  each  was  given  a  paper  and 
pencil. 

"  I  see,"  Uncle  Steve  began,  "  that  this  is  a  Good 
Luck  party.  So  each  of  you  write  the  words 
'  good  luck '  at  the  top  of  your  paper.  Have  you 
done  so?  Good!  Now,  I  hope  you  will  all  of 
you  have  all  good  luck  always,  but  if  you  can't 
get  it  all,  get  part.  So  try  your  hand  at  it  by 
making  words  of  four  letters  out  of  those  two 
words  you  have  written.  Use  each  letter  only 
once, — unless  it  is  repeated,  like  o  in  '  good.'  How- 
ever, that's  the  only  one  that  u  a  repeater,  so 
use  the  others  only  once  in  any  word  you  make. 
The  words  must  be  each  of  four  letters, — no  more 
and  no  less.  And  they  must  all  be  good,  common, 


186  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

well-known  English  words.  Now  go  aliead,  and 
the  best  list  takes  a  prize." 

How  the  children  scribbled !  How  they  nibbled 
their  pencils  and  thought !  How  they  whispered 
to  each  other  to  ask  if  such  a  word  was  right ! 

Marjorie  was  quick  at  puzzles,  but  she  didn't 
think  it  would  be  polite  to  take  the  prize  at  her 
own  party,  so  she  didn't  hand  in  her  list.  Neither 
did  Kitty  nor  King.  So  when  the  lists  were 
handed  in,  Uncle  Steve  rapidly  looked  them  over. 

"  The  longest  list,"  he  announced,  "  contains 
ten  words." 

"  Oh,  dear!  "  sighed  Hester.  "  Isn't  that  just 
my  bad  luck!  I  had  nine." 

"  So  did  I,"  said  several  others,  but  it  was 
Tom  Craig's  list  that  had  ten,  so  he  received  the 
prize.  His  list,  as  Uncle  Steve  read  it  out,  was : 
Cook,  loud,  duck,  cool,  cold,  lock,  look,  dock,  clod, 
gold.  The  prize  was  a  box  of  candy  made  in 
the  shape  of  a  four-leafed  clover,  so  it  was  really 
four  boxes. 

Tom  generously  offered  to  pass  the  sweets 
around  at  once,  but  Uncle  Steve  advised  him  not 
to,  as  supper  would  be  served  pretty  soon. 

The  children  all  liked  the  game,  and  clamored 
for  a  repetition  of  it,  but  Cousin  Jack  said  it  was 
his  turn  for  a  game  now,  and  if  they'd  all  stay 
at  the  tables,  he'd  give  it  to  them. 


THIRTEEN!  187 

"  This  is  my  own  game,"  he  said,  "  because  it  is 
called  jackstraws,  and  my  name  is  Jack.  I  am 
not  a  man  of  straw,  however,  as  you'd  soon  find 
if  you  tried  to  knock  me  over !  The  game  is 
almost  like  ordinary  jackstraws,  but  with  slight 
additions." 

Then  there  were  passed  around  bunches  of 
jackstraws  for  each  table.  They  were  just  like 
ordinary  jackstraws,  except  they  were  of  differ- 
ent colors,  and  a  little  card  told  how  to  count. 
White  ones  were  one ;  red  ones,  two ;  blue  ones, 
five ;  silver  ones,  ten ;  and  gold  ones,  twenty.  Then 
one  marked  Good  Luck  counted  fifteen,  and  an- 
other, marked  thirteen,  counted  twenty-five.  This 
proved  that  thirteen  was  not  an  unlucky  number! 

It's  always  fun  to  play  jackstraws,  and  the 
children  went  at  it  with  a  zest.  Midget,  at  the 
next  table,  was  not  surprised  to  hear  Hester  com- 
plaining, "  Oh,  you  j  oggled  me !  That  isn't  fair ! 
I  ought  to  have  another  turn !  I  never  have  any 
luck !  "  Marjorie  smiled  across  at  her,  and,  seem- 
ing to  remember  the  condition  of  the  basket  ex- 
change, Hester  tried  to  smile,  and  succeeded  fairly 
well. 

Milly  Fosdick  won  that  prize,  and  they  all 
laughed  when  it  turned  out  to  be  a  straw  hat 
of  Indian  make.  It  was  of  gay  pattern  basket 
work,  and  adorned  with  beads  and  feathers.  Milly 


188  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

was  delighted  with  it,  and  said  she  should  always 
leeep  it  as  a  souvenir. 

By  that  time  the  ladies  had  completed  their 
taslc,  and  the  prize  for  the  Good  Luck  hunt  fell 
to  Hester  Corey.  This  was  the  prettiest  prize 
of  all,  being  a  beautifully  illustrated  copy  of 
Grimms'  "  Fairy  Tales,"  and  Hester  was  en- 
«hanted  with  it.  She  took  it  eagerly,  and  never 
setmed  to  think  for  a  moment  that  perhaps  it 
wasn't  quite  fairly  won ;  nor  did  she  thank  Mar- 
jorie  for  the  assistance  she  gave. 

Then  they  all  went  out  to  supper.  And  such 
at  supper  as  it  was !  The  table  was  decorated 
T»ffch  green  four-leafed  clovers,  and  gilt  horseshoes, 
and  black  cats,  and  yellow  new  moons.  And  every 
«me  had  a  little  rabbit's  foot,  mounted  like  a 
charm,  for  a  souvenir ;  and  also  a  bright  lucky 
penny  of  that  very  year. 

And  the  sandwiches  were  cut  like  clovers,  and 
the  cakes  like  new  moons,  and  the  ice-cream  was 
shaped  like  horseshoes,  and  everybody  wished 
everybody  else  good  luck  all  through  Marjorie's 
thirteenth  year.  And  when  the  young  guests  went 
away  they  all  sang: 

"Good  luck,  ladies;  good  luck,  ladies; 
Good  luck,  ladies; 
We're  going  to  leaTe  7011  BOW." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

QUEEN   HESTER 

"  KIT'S  my  bestest  birthday  present,'*  declared 
Marjorie,  as  they  sat  together  in  the  veranda, 
swing  the  morning  after  the  party. 

Kitty  pulled  her  sister's  curls  in  absent-minded 
affection,  and  remarked,  thoughtfully: 

"  Mopsy,  I  don't  seem  to  care  much  for  that 
red-headed  Hester  girl." 

"  She's  a  queer  thing,"  Marjorie  returned,  "  but 
I  sort  of  like  her,  too.  You  see,  Kit,  she  has  a, 
fearful  temper,  and  she  can't  help  being  spiteful.1* 

"  Oh,  fiddlesticks,  Mops !  Anybody  can  help 
being  spiteful  if  they  want  to." 

"  No,  she  can't,  Kit.  She  flies  into  a  rage  over 
nothing.  And  tben  she's  sorry  afterward." 

"  Will  she  be  at  the  Sand  Court  thing,  or  what- 
ever you  call  it,  to-day?  " 

"  Yes,  all  the  club  will  be  there.     Come  on,  let's 

go." 

The  sisters  ran  down  to  Sand  Court  and  found 
King  and  the  Craig  boys  already  there. 

"  Old  Crosspatch  hasn't   come  yet,"   observed 
Dick,  after  they  had  all  said  "  Hello ! " 
189 


190  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Dick,"  said  Midget,  "  I  wish  you  wouldn't  call 
our  Sand  Witch  such  unkind  names." 

"  Well,  she  is  a  crosspatch." 

"  Well,  never  mind  if  she  is.  Don't  let's  call 
names,  anyway." 

And  then  Hester  arrived.  It  was  easily  seen 
she  was  prepared  for  a  fray.  She  was  not  smil- 
ing, and  she  said  "  Hello  "  with  a  very  sour  ex- 
pression of  face.  Then  she  turned  to  Midget. 

"  Did  you  make  me  a  new  crown  ?  "  she  said. 
"  Are  you  going  to  let  me  be  Queen  ?  " 

"  We  have  to  vote  about  that,"  returned  Mar- 
jorie,  "  and  I  do  hope,  my  courtiers,  that  we 
won't  have  any  squabbling  before  our  royal  vis- 
itor, Miss  Princess  Sand, — Sand — well,  San 
Diego  is  the  only  name  I  can  think  of  for  Kit !  " 

"  Hail,  Princess  Sandeago !  "  cried  Tom,  and  all 
the  courtiers  ducked  almost  to  the  ground  in  low 
bows. 

"  Now,"  went  on  Marjorie,  "  our  first  business 
this  morning  is  the  election  of  a  new  Queen." 

"  Queens  aren't  elected,"  growled  Tom,  "  they, 
— they, — what  do  they  do?  Oh,  they  succeed!" 

"  That's  exactly  what  they  do !  "  cried  Midget. 
"  And  Pm  going  to  succeed !  I  mean  I'm  going  to 
succeed  in  my  plan  of  having  Hester  succeed  me! 
I  asked  Father  about  elections,  and  he  said  people 
could  be  instructed  to  vote  a  certain  way.  So  I 


QUEEN  HESTER  191 

hereby  instruct  you  all,  my  beloved  courtiers,  to 
vote  for  a  new  Queen.  The  same  to  be  our  be- 
loved Sand  Witch." 

"  Beloved  grandmother !  "  exclaimed  Tom,  irre- 
pressibly. 

"No,  my  Grand  Sandjandrum,"  went  on  Mid- 
get, looking  sternly  at  him,  "  she  isn't  your  grand- 
mother, but  she's  to  be  your  new  sovereign,  so  you 
may  as  well  make  up  your  mind  to  it." 

As  Hester  began  to  think  Midget  was  going  to 
make  the  change,  whether  the  boys  wanted  to  or 
not,  she  suddenly  became  very  light-hearted  and 
smiled  at  everybody. 

"  I'll  be  a  good  Queen,"  she  said,  ingratiatingly, 
"  and  I'll  do  whatever  you  want  me  to." 

And  then  King  waked  up  to  the  fact  that  since 
Midget  desired  this  change,  and  since  it  might 
have  the  effect  of  keeping  Hester  pleasant  and 
good-natured,  perhaps  it  was  a  good  plan  after 
all.  So  he  said: 

"  All  right ;  I'll  vote  as  Queen  Sandy  instructs." 

Tom  looked  at  him  in  surprise,  and  then,  re- 
membering he  had  practically  promised  to  do  as 
Marjorie  asked,  he  said: 

"  Well,  I  will  too.  But  only  on  condition  that 
the  new  Queen  promises  to  be  pleasant  and  nice 
all  the  time." 

"  I  will,"  declared  Hester,  earnestly,  her  face 


192  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

fairly  radiant  now  at  the  thought  of  wearing  the 
crown. 

"You  ought  to  take  an  oath  of  office  and  say 
.so,"  advised  Kitty,  who  was  critically  watching 
the  proceedings. 

"  What's  that  mean  ?  "  demanded  Hester. 

"  Why,  swear  that  you  won't  lose  your  temper." 

"  Oh,  I  wouldn't  swear!  "  cried  Hester,  in  dis- 
may. 

"Kit  doesn't  mean  bad  swearing,"  explained 
King.  "  She  means  official  swearing,  or  something 
like  that.  All  Queens  do  it,  and  juries,  and  presi- 
dents, and  everything.  It's  only  promising  or 
Towing." 

"  Well,  I'll  promise  or  vow,"  agreed  Hester, 
**but  I  won't  swear." 

"All  right,"  said  Marjorie.  "You  must  hold 
up  both  hands,  and  say  '  I  promise  or  vow  to 
lie  a  good  Queen  and  not  get  mad  at  my  courtiers/ 
Say  it  now." 

So  Hester  raised  both  hands  as  high  as  she 
could  and  repeated  Marjorie's  words. 

"Now  you've  taken  your  oath  of  office,  and 
you're  queen,"  said  Kitty,  who  was  unconsciously 
taking  charge  of  affairs.  "  Where's  the  crown, 
Mops?" 

"  The  new  Queen  tore  it  up  the  other  day,"  said 
JMidget,  demurely. 


QUEEN  HESTER  19S 

"  Then  she  must  make  a  new  one,"  commanded 
t  Kitty.  "  Never  mind ;  for  to-day  this  w2S 
do." 

The  Princess  San  Diego  hastily  twisted  some 
vines  into  a  wreath,  and  laid  it  gently  on  the 
brilliant  locks  of  the  new  Queen. 

"  I  crown  you  Queen  Sandy ! "  she  said,  dra- 
matically. 

"  It's  all  right,  Kit,"  said  King,  looking  quiz- 
zical, "  but  just  how  do  you  happen  to  be  running 
this  court?  " 

"  Oh,  I  might  as  well,"  returned  Kitty  care- 
lessly. "  I  don't  think  the  rest  of  you  are  very 
good  at  it." 

"  That's  so,"  admitted  Tom.  "  I  guess  we  do 
-  squabble  a  lot." 

"It  isn't  only  that,"  said  Kitty,  "but  yoa 
don't  have  much  order  and  ceremony." 

"  I've  noticed  that,"  put  in  Dick.  "  We  just 
talk  every-day  sort  of  talk.  I  think  we  ought  to 
be  grander." 

"  So  do  I,"  agreed  Kitty.  "  Here,  Hester,  ghre 
'  me  that  crown;  I'll  be  Queen  for  to-day,  and  show 
you  how." 

There  was  nothing  bumptious  or  even  dicta- 
torial in  Kitty's  manner;  she  merely  wanted  to 
show  them  how  a  Queen  ought  to  act.  So  she  put 
the  vine  wreath  on  her  own  head,  and  breaking  & 


194  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

branch  from  a  tall  shrub  nearby  for  a  sceptre, 
she  seated  herself  on  the  dilapidated  throne. 

"  I  pray  you  sit,"  she  said,  condescendingly,  to 
her  court.  "Ha!  where  is  my  page?" 

"  There  is  no  page,  O  Queen,"  said  the  Grand 
Sandjandrum,  looking  mortified. 

"  Thus  I  create  one !  "  announced  Kitty,  calmly. 
"  Sand  Crab,  kneel  before  me ! " 

Harry  sprang  forward  to  obey,  and  kneeled 
at  Kitty's  feet. 

"  Thus  I  anoint  thee  page !  "  declared  the  Queen, 
dramatically  tapping  him  three  times  on  his 
shoulder.  "  Rise,  Sir  Page,  and  attend  upon 
me!" 

"Yes,  ma'am!  What  shall  I  do?"  asked  the 
new  page,  greatly  flustered. 

"  Stared  thou  here  at  my  right  hand.  It  may 
be  I  might  have  an  errand  or  two  now  and 
then." 

"  Aye,  aye,  O  Queen ! "  declaimed  Dick,  who 
was  catching  the  spirit  of  Kitty's  rule. 

"  Well  spoke,  fair  sir.  Stand  thou  there,  I 
prithee.  And  now,  Courtiers,  is  there  any  busi- 
ness to  be  discussed?  " 

"  Nay,  O  Queen,"  said  Tom,  "  we  but  wait  thy 
pleasure." 

"  Then  my  pleasure  is  now  to  install  the  new 
Queen.  And,  prithee,  my  courtiers,  when  that  the 


QUEEN  HESTER  195 

new  Queen  is  enthroned,  then  does  the  receding 
Queen  become  the  Sand  Witch?  " 

"  Yea,  O  fair  Queen,"  said  Marjorie,  coming 
up  with  mincing  steps  and  bowing  before  Kitty. 
"  From  now  on  I  am  the  Sand  Witch  of  this 
court,  and  I  humbly  beg  thy  favor." 

"  Favor  be  thine ! "  announced  the  temporary 
Queen.  "  And  now,  O  my  courtiers,  lead  to  me 
Queen  Hester  Sandy,  Queen  of  Sand  Court ! " 

Reconciled  at  last  to  this  state  of  things,  King 
and  Tom  sprang  to  escort  Hester.  Dick  and 
Harry  marched  gravely  behind,  while  Midget 
stalked  along  ahead,  and  thus  quite  an  imposing 
procession  approached  Queen  Kitty  and  ranged 
themselves  before  her. 

"  O  Queen,"  Kitty  began,  "  you  have  already 
taken  oath  of  office,  O  Queen!  So  now  naught 
remains  but  to  take  the  seat  of  royalty,  the 
honored  throne  of  Sand  Court,  O  Queen !  " 

And  then  Hester  scored  her  success.  She 
stepped  up  on  the  sand  mound  that  was  the  throne, 
and  bowed  her  head  while  Kitty  transferred  the 
vine  wreath  that  represented  the  crown.  Then 
Hester  drew  herself  up  majestically,  waved  her 
sceptre,  and  declaimed: 

"  I,  the  Queen  of  Sand  Court,  accept  this  honor 
that  is  thus  thrust  upon  me ! " 

There  were  some  astonished  faces   among  the 


196  MAIIJCRIE  AT  SEACOTE 

courtiers  at  this  speech,  but  nobody  interrupted. 

"  I,  Queen  Sandy,  promise  to  be  a  good  Queen 
to  my  beloved  courtiers,  and  never  to  lose  my 
temper  or  speak  cross,  but  to  emulate  the  sweet 
and  sunlighty  disposition  of  our  departing  and 
beloved  Queen,  who  is  now  a  Sand  Witch.  Where- 
fore, my  courtiers,  I  beseech  your  fealty  and  faith, 
and  I  present  my  compliments,  and  the  compli- 
ments of  this  court  to  our  visitor,  the  Princess 
San  Diego.  This  lovely  lady  has  been  a  great 
help,  and  we  now  salute  her.  I  bid  thee  all 
salute !  " 

They  all  saluted  by  bowing  low  to  Kitty ;  in- 
deed, the  page  bowed  so  low  that  he  tumbled  over, 
but  soon  scrambled  up  again. 

"  And  now,"  went  on  Queen  Sandy,  "  I  bid  thee 
salute  our  Sand  Witch.  She  is  a  witch  of  good- 
ness and  joy.  We  all  love  her,  the  court  honors 
her,  and  one  and  all  we  now  salute  her !  " 

More  low  bows  followed,  and  then  the  court 
resumed  its  upright  attitude  and  awaited  orders. 

"  There  is  no  more  saluting  necessary,"  ex- 
plained the  gracious  Queen.  "  You  boy  courtiers 
can't  expect  it.  N.ow  the  court  is  dismissed  and 
the  Sand  Club  will  play  something." 

The  Queen  came  down  from  the  throne,  and 
courtly  manners  and  speeches  were  laid  aside. 

"  Let's  fix  up  the  court  instead  of  playing," 


QUEEN  HESTER  197 

suggested  Kitty,  and  as  all  thought  this  a  good 
idea,  they  went  at  it. 

Everybody  worked  with  a  will,  for  it  was  fun 
to  get  the  court  in  order  again,  and  Kitty  and 
Midget  were  so  fond  of  fixing  up  and  decorating 
that  when  the  task  was  over,  Sand  Court  was 
far  handsomer  than  ever  before. 

Shell  borders  outlined  the  throne  and  the 
courtier's  seat,  and  the  old  legless  chair  was  so 
draped  with  cheesecloth  and  green  vines  that  it 
was  a  picture  in  itself.  Then  it  was  luncheon 
time,  and  the  courtiers  said  good-bye  and  parted 
to  go  to  their  homes. 

"  She's  a  funny  girl,"  said  Kitty,  as  the  May- 
nard  trio  reached  their  house.  "  As  soon  as  she 
got  what  she  wanted,  she  was  sweet  as  pie.  But 
if  you  hadn't  given  up  the  Queen  to  her,  Mops, 
she  would  have  been  madder'n  hops." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Midget,  "  but  that  wasn't 
the  reason  I  did  it.  I  did  it  'cause  I  thought  it 
was  fairer  for  her  to  have  a  turn  at  being 
Queen." 

"  And  it  was,"  said  Kitty,  judicially.  "  I  think 
you  did  right,  Mopsy;  but,  all  the  same,  she'll 
never  keep  that  promise  to  be  sweet  and  pleasant." 

"  Oh,  Kitty,  she'll  have  to !  Why,  she  vowed 
it!" 

"  Oh,  pshaw,  she'll  get  mad  and  forget  all  about 


198  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

that  vow.  Say,  Mops,  what  do  you  think?  I've 
learned  to  make  cake." 

"  You  have !     Who  taught  you  ?  " 

"  Eliza  did,  up  at  Grandma's.  It  was  fine. 
I'll  teach  you,  if  you  like." 

"  Do !  "  urged  King.  "  Then  Midge  can  make 
little  cakes  for  the  Sand  Club.  Ellen  makes  'em 
sometimes,  but  she  says  it's  a  bother." 

Permission  being  granted  by  Mrs.  Maynard, 
the  girls  tried  cake-making  that  very  after- 


noon. 

M 


I'll  help  yez,  shall  I?"  asked  Ellen,  as  the 
two  energetic  damsels  raided  her  pantry. 

"  No,  Ellen,"  said  Marjorie.  "  Miss  Kitty  is 
going  to  teach  me.  You  go, — go — why,  Ellen, 
you  take  an  afternoon  out !  " 

"  It  isn't  me  day  out,  Miss  Midget,  but  I'll 
go  to  me  room,  an'  if  yez  wants  me,  yez  can  send 
Sarah  afther  me,  sure." 

"  Can  I  help  ?  "  asked  King,  who  wanted  to  be 
in  the  fun. 

"  Yes,  you  can  stone  raisins,"  said  Kitty,  kindly. 

At  home  in  Rockwell,  Marjorie  had  always 
been  chief  directress  in  all  their  doings,  but  down 
here  Kitty  was  more  like  a  visitor,  and  the  others 
politely  deferred  to  her.  So  King  went  con- 
tentedly to  work,  stoning  raisins,  and  the  girls 
made  the  cake. 


QUEEN  HESTER  199 

"  I  didn't  bring  my  recipe  book,"  said  Kitty, 
"  but  I  guess  I  remember  how  to  make  it.  You 
see,  Eliza  is  going  to  teach  me  to  make  lots  of 
things,  so  I've  quite  a  big  book  for  recipes." 

"  How  many  have  you  so  far?  "  asked  Midget, 
greatly  interested. 

"  Well, — only  this  one ;  but  it's  sponge  cake, 
you  know.  I  shall  have  more  later." 

"  Yes,  of  course,"  said  Midget,  politely,  and 
suddenly  feeling  that  her  younger  sister  was  get- 
ting very  grown-up,  with  her  recipe  book  and  her 
sponge  cake. 

"  Now,"  proceeded  Kitty,  "  if  I'm  to  show 
you,  Midget,  you  must  pay  close  attention." 

"  I  will,— oh,  I  will !  " 

"  First,  you  break  the  eggs,  and  separate  them, 
white  from  yolk,  like  this, — see !  " 

But  whether  she  was  rattled  at  having  such  an 
interested  audience,  or  whether  she  was  not  very 
expert  as  yet,  Kitty  couldn't  make  the  eggs  "  sep- 
arate "  neatly.  Every  one  she  broke  persisted 
in  spilling  out  its  yellow  and  white  together. 

"Let  me  try,"  said  Marjorie,  but  her  efforts 
were  not  much  more  successful.  Bits  of  shell 
would  fall  in  the  bowl,  and  even  if  she  got  most 
of  the  white  in  safely,  some  yellow  would  spill 
in,  too. 

"  Does  it  matter  much  ?  "  asked  King. 


200  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Oh,  I  don't  believe  so,"  said  Kitty.  "  I  guess 
we'll  beat  the  eggs  all  up  together,  white  and 
yellow  both." 

Kitty  put  in  the  Dover  eggbeater  with  an  air 
of  experience,  and  whisked  its  wheel  round  and 
round." 

"  Let  me  in,  too,"  said  Midget.  "  Here's  an- 
other beater  I  found  in  the  cupboard." 

There  was  room  in  the  big  bowl  for  both  beaters, 
and  the  two  girls  whizzed  the  wheels  around  like 
mad. 

"  Hold  on !  "  cried  King.  "  You're  flirting  that 
yellow  stuff  all  over !  " 

"  Well,  anyway,  it's  well  beaten,"  declared 
Kitty,  looking  at  the  frothy  yellow  mass  with  sat- 
isfaction. "  Now  we  put  in  the  flour, — no,  the 
sugar,  I  think." 

"Butter?"  suggested  Marjorie. 

"  No,  there's  no  butter  in  it.  This  is  sponge 
cake." 

Properly  subdued,  Marjorie  awaited  orders. 

"  Sugar,"  Kitty  decided  at  last ;  "  and  bring  a 
cup." 

Midget  brought  the  cup,  and  Kitty  measured 
the  sugar,  and  dumped  it  into  the  bowl  of  egg. 

"  I  can't  think  whether  it's  three  or  four  cups 
full,"  she  said,  holding  a  cup  full  uncertainly 
over  the  bowl. 


QUEEN  HESTER  201 

"  Dump  it  in !  "  advised  King.  "  I  like  'em 
pretty  sweet." 

So  in  went  the  sugar,  and  Midget  was  allowed 
to  stir,  while  Kitty  measured  flour. 

"  We  have  to  sift  this  four  times,"  she  an- 
nounced, with  an  air  of  great  wisdom.  "  I'll  do 
this  part." 

She  did,  but  she  was  so  energetic  about  it,  and 
the  flour  sieve  so  uncertain  on  its  three  iron  legs, 
that  much  of  the  flour  flew  over  the  table,  the  floor, 
and  the  clothing  of  the  workers. 

"Hold  up,  Kit!"  cried  Marjorie,  as  a  cloud 
of  flour  almost  blinded  her.  "  I  can't  see  to  beat, 
if  you  fly  that  flour  around  so !  " 

"  Well,  it  has  to  be  sifted  four  times,"  apolo- 
gized Kitty,  and  turned  it  into  the  sieve  again. 

Much  was  lost  in  transit,  and  King  declared 
it  was  already  sifted  as  fine  as  it  would  ever  be, 
but  Kitty  was  unmoved  by  comment  or  criti- 
cism. 

"  Now  it's  all  right,"  she  said,  peering  into  the 
pan  of  finally  prepared  flour,  and  ignoring  the 
white  dust  that  was  all  over  everything.  "  But 
first  a  cup  of  hot  water  must  go  in." 

"  I'll  pour  it,"  said  King,  rising  quickly,  and 
taking  the  tea-kettle  from  Kitty,  who  was  in  immi- 
nent danger  of  scalding  herself. 

"  Just  a  cup  full ! "  said  Kitty,  warningly,  as 


202  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

the  hot  water  ran  over  the  brimming  cup  and  fell 
to  the  floor. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  King,  "  we'll  only  use 
what's  in  the  cup,"  and  carrying  it  as  carefully 
as  possible  he  poured  it  into  the  bowl  of  batter 
that  Marjorie  was  faithfully  beating. 

"Oh,  not  all  at  once!"  cried  Kitty.  "It 
should  have  been  put  in  little  by  little." 

"  Can't  help  it  now,"  said  Midget,  cheerfully. 
"  I  guess  it  won't  matter.  Now  in  with  the  flour, 
Kit ;  and  you  must  have  baking  powder." 

"  I  don't  think  Eliza  put  in  any  baking  pow- 
der," said  Kitty,  dubiously. 

"  Oh,  she  must  have !  "  said  Midget.  "  That's 
what  baking  powder  is  for, — to  bake  with.  It's 
on  that  shelf,  Kitty." 

Kitty  was  uncertain  about  the  baking  powder, 
so  took  Marjorie's  advice. 

"  But  I  don't  know  how  much,"  she  said,  as 
she  opened  the  tin  box. 

"  About  a  tablespoonful  to  a  cup  of  flour," 
said  Marjorie.  "  I  think  I  heard  Mother  say 
that  once."  She  was  not  at  all  sure,  but  she 
greatly  wanted  to  help  Kitty  if  possible. 

"  All  right,"  said  Kitty,  and  having  already 
put  in  three  cups  of  flour,  she  added  to  the 
mixture  three  heaping  tablespoonfuls  of  baking 
powder. 


QUEEN  HESTER  203 

"  Now  for  the  raisins,"  she  said. 

"  I  didn't  know  sponge  cake  ever  had  raisins 
in  it,"  said  Marjorie. 

"It  doesn't,  usually,"  said  Kitty,  "but  I 
thought  it  would  add  an  extra  touch." 

She  stirred  them  in,  and  then  they  poured  the 
batter  into  a  cake  tin. 

"  It  does  look  lovely,"  said  Midget,  tasting  it 
with  a  spoon.  "  It  tastes  pretty  good,  but  not 
as  good  as  it  looks.  I  guess  it'll  be  lovely  when* 
it's  baked.  Open  the  oven,  King." 

King  threw  open  the  oven  door  with  a  flourish, 
and  the  girls  pushed  the  big  pan  inside. 

"  Shut  it  quick !  "  warned  Kitty.  "  The  cake 
falls  unless  you  do!  It  must  bake  three-quarters 
of  an  hour." 

And  then  they  all  waited  patiently  for  the  time- 
to  take  it  out. 


CHAPTER  XV 

A  MOTOR  RIDE 

'"ISN'T  it  done  yet?"  asked  King,  after  half  an 
hour  had  elapsed. 

"  Nope,"  returned  Kitty,  positively.  "  It  can't 
be  done  till  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  it's 
only  a  half." 

"Smells  done!"  exclaimed  Marjorie,  sniffing 
"  I  believe  it's  burning,  Kit." 

"  Pshaw,  it  can't  be  burning.  That  isn't  a  hot 
fire,  is  it,  King?  " 

"  No,"  replied  King,  after  removing  one  of  the 
range  covers  and  scrutinizing  the  fire.  "  That's 
what  the  cook  books  call  a  moderate  fire." 

"  Then  that's  all  right,"  and  Kitty  wagged 
her  head  in  satisfaction.  "  Sponge  cake  require? 
a  mod-rit  fire." 

"  But  it's  leaking  out,  Kitty!  "  cried  Marjorie, 
dancing  about  the  kitchen.  "  Oh,  look,  it's  leak- 
ing out !  " 

Sure  enough,  smoke  was  coming  out  through  the 
edges  of  the  oven  door,  and  a  sticky  substance 
.  began  to  ooze  through. 

"  The  door  isn't  shut  quite  tight,"  began  Kitty, 
204 


but  before  she  could  finish,  King  flung  the  oven 
door  wide  open. 

"  Better  see  what's  up !  "  he  said,  and  as  the 
smoke  poured  out  in  a  volume,  and  then  cleared 
away  a  little,  a  strange  sight  confronted  them. 

The  cake  dough  had  apparently  multiplied  itself 
by  ten,  if  not  more.  It  had  risen  and  run  all 
over  the  sides  of  the  pan,  had  dripped  down 
through  the  grating  to  the  bottom  of  the  oven,, 
and  had  bubbled  up  from  there  all  over  the  sides 
and  door.  In  fact  the  oven  was  lined  with  a 
sticky,  sizzling,  yellow  material  that  had  turned 
brown  in  some  places,  and  was  burned  black  in 
others. 

"  Something  must  have  gone  wrong,"  said  Kitty, 
calmly,  as  she  looked  at  the  ruins.  "  I  was  almost 
sure  it  didn't  need  any  baking  powder.  That's 
what  blew  it  up  so." 

"  H'm,"  said  King.  "  I  don't  believe  I  care  for 
any.  Wonder  what  became  of  the  raisins  ?  " 

"  You  can  see  them  here  and  there,"  said  Mar- 
jorie.  "  Those  burned  black  spots  are  raisins. 
Phew !  how  it  smokes  !  I'm  going  out." 

"  Let's  call  Ellen,"  said  Kitty,  "  she  said  to." 

Being  summoned,  Ellen  arrived  on  the  scene  of 
action. 

"  Arrah,  Miss  Kitty,"  she  said ;  "  shure,  an'  I 
thought  ye  cuddent  make  cake.  Now,  why  did  ye 


206  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

thry,  an'  put  all  in  such  a  pother?  Bclikes  ye 
want  to  make  me  throuble." 

"No,  Ellen,"  said  Kitty,  smiling  at  her.  "I 
didn't  do  it  purposely  for  that.  I  thought  it 
would  be  good.  You  see,  I  did  make  it  once,  and 
it  was  good." 

"  Ah,  go  'long  wid  yez, — all  of  yez !  Shure  I'll 
be  afther  clanin'  up.  An'  niver  a  shcold  I'll  shcold 
yez  if  ye'll  kape  outen  o'  my  kitchen  afther  this." 

"Good  for  you,  Ellen!"  shouted  King.  "I 
thought  you'd  raise  a  row!  Nice  Ellen,  good 
Ellen !  Good-bye,  Ellen !  " 

"  Good-bye,  ye  bad  babies !  I'll  make  ye  some 
tea-cakes  now  as  ye  can  eat !  " 

"  Isn't  she  a  duck !  "  exclaimed  Kitty. 

"  Oh,  that's  'cause  you're  sort  of  company.  If 
you  hadn't  been  here,  and  we'd  done  that  she'd 
have  tuned  up,  all  right !  " 

This  was  King's  opinion,  and  Marjorie  agreed 
with  him.  "  We  never  go  in  the  kitchen."  she 
said.  "  I  guess  Ellen  was  so  surprised  she  didn't 
know  what  to  say." 

"  Well,"  said  Kitty,  quite  undisturbed  by  the 
circumstances,  "  you  see,  at  Grandma's,  Eliza 
helps  me,  and  sort  of  superintends  what  I  put  in." 

"  Yes,  I  see,"  said  King.  "  Now  you  do  a  lot 
of  cooking  after  you  get  back  there,  Kit,  and  try 
to  learn  your  recipes  better." 


A  MOTOR  RIDE  207 

Kitty  laughed  and  promised,  and  then  the  three 
children  wandered  into  the  dining-room  to  see  what 
their  elders  were  doing. 

"Can't  we  start  at  once?"  Cousin  Ethel  was 
saying.  "  Oh,  here  are  the  kiddies  now !  Come 
in,  you  three  blessings  in  disguise!  Do  you  want 
to  go  on  a  jamboree?  " 

"  What's  that?  "  asked  Kitty. 

"  Oh,  a  lovely  motor  ride,  with  two  cars,  and 
stay  all  night,  and  lots  of  lovely  things  like  that !  " 

"  Oh,  goody  !  "  cried  Marjorie.  "  Are  we  really 
going?  Mother's  been  talking  about  a  trip  like 
that!" 

"  I  guess  we  will,"  said  Mr.  Maynard.  "  We 
haven't  had  an  Ourday  for  some  time.  How  would 
you  like  to  take  the  opportunity  for  one  while 
we  have  Kitty-girl  among  us  ?  " 

"  Gorgiferous !  Gay!"  cried  Marjorie,  and 
King  threw  his  cap  high  in  the  air  and  caught  it 
deftly  on  his  head. 

"When  do  we  start?" 

"  As  soon  as  we  can  get  off,"  said  Mr.  Maynard, 
looking  at  his  watch.  "  Scamper,  you  kiddies,  and 
get  into  appropriate  rigs." 

"Oh,  what  fun!"  cried  Marjorie,  as  they  flew 
upstairs.  "What  shall  we  wear,  Mothery?  " 

"  You'll  find  your  frocks  laid  out  in  your 
rooms,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard,  who  was  prepared 


208  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

for  this  question.  "  Then  put  on  your  motor 
coats  and  take  your  motor  bonnets  with  you, — but 
you  needn't  wear  them  unless  you  choose." 

The  girls  danced  away,  and  soon  were  in  full 
regalia.  They  went  flying  downstairs  to  learn 
more  of  the  particulars  of  the  trip.  Nurse  Nan- 
nie and  Rosy  Posy  were  on  the  porch  waiting, 
the  little  one  greatly  excited  at  thought  of  the 
journey. 

"  Oh,  what  a  grand  Ourday,  Father !  "  cried 
Midget,  giving  him  one  of  her  most  ferocious 
"  bear  hugs."  "  We  have  so  much  vacation  down 
here,  I  thought  we  wouldn't  catch  any  Ourdays !  " 

"  Well,  this  is  an  extra  thrown  in  for  good 
measure.  I  suppose  you  don't  care,  Midget,  which 
>car  you  ride  in?  " 

"  Not  a  bit !     We  keep  together,  don't  we?  " 

"  Yes,  as  much  as  possible.  Cousin  Jack  will 
drive  his  own  car,  and  Pompton,  of  course,  will 
drive  ours." 

"  It  all  happened  so  swift  I  can  hardly  realize 
it,"  said  Kitty.  "  Only  a  minute  or  two  ago  I  was 
making  cake  in  the  kitchen,  and  now  here  I  am !  " 

"  Making  what?  "  asked  King,  teasingly,  but 
when  he  saw  Kitty  look  red  and  embarrassed  he 
turned  the  subject. 

Kitty  had  told  her  mother  about  the  cake  epi- 
sode, but  Mrs.  Maynard  said  it  was  an  accident 


A  MOTOR  RIDE 

due  to  inexperience,  and  nothing  further  need  be 
said  about  it. 

"  I'll  divide  up  the  passengers,"  said  Cousin 
Jack  as,  with  the  two  cars  standing  in  front  of 
the  door,  no  one  knew  just  which  to  get  in. 

"  Ethel  and  I  will  take  Marjorie  and  King  with 
us,  for  I  think  Kitty  will  want  to  ride  with  her 
mother,  and  Babykins,  too." 

"  All  right,"  agreed  Mr.  Maynard,  and  then  he 
packed  Uncle  Steve  and  Mrs.  Maynard  and  Kitty 
on  the  back  seat,  Nannie  and  Rosamond  next  in: 
front,  and  he  climbed  up  beside  Pompton. 

Some  suitcases  and  a  basket  of  light  luncheon1 
were  stowed  away,  and  off  they  started,  Ellen  and 
Sarah  waving  to  them  from  the  steps  as  they  flew 
down  the  drive.  It  was  a  perfect  day  for  motor- 
ing. Not  too  hot,  not  too  breezy,  and  no  dust. 

Their  destination  was  Lakewood,  but  for  quite 
a  distance  their  road  lay  along  by  the  shore  before 
they  turned  inland. 

Marjorie  sat  back,  beside  Cousin  Ethel,  and 
King  sat  in  front  with  Cousin  Jack. 

"  Let's  play  Roadside  Euchre,"  said  Midget. 

"  We  go  too  fast  for  that,"  said  King.  "  We 
couldn't  see  the  things  to  count  them." 

"  What  is  it,  Mehitabel  ?  "  asked  Cousin  Jack. 
"  We  aren't  going  so  very  fast." 

"  Why,  you  count  the  things  on  each  side  of 


210  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

the  road.  You  and  I  are  on  the  right,  you  know, 
Cousin  Jack,  so  we  count  all  on  this  side.  Then 
Cousin  Ethel  and  King  count  all  on  their  side." 

"All  what?" 

"  Well,  a  horse  and  vehicle  counts  one ;  a  vehicle 
with  two  horses  counts  two ;  and  a  horse  without 
any  wagon  or  carriage  counts  five.  An  automo- 
bile counts  ten ;  a  herd  of  cows,  fifteen ;  and  a  load 
of  hay,  twenty.  A  cat  in  a  window  counts  twenty- 
five,  and  people  count  five  apiece.  Any  animal, 
not  a  horse  counts  ten." 

"  But,  as  I  am  driving,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  "  I 
can  turn  either  side,  and  so  make  them  count  as 
I  like." 

"  No,  you  must  turn  just  as  you  would,  anyway. 
Of  course,  as  you  turn  to  the  right,  King  and 
Cousin  Ethel  will  count  most  of  the  vehicles  we 
pass ;  but  we'll  make  up  some  other  way.  Oh, 
here's  a  flock  of  chickens !  I  forgot  to  tell  you, 
chickens  count  one  each." 

The  motor  seemed  to  go  right  through  the  flock 
of  chickens,  but  Cousin  Jack  was  a  careful  driver 
and  didn't  harm  one  of  them.  There  was  a  terrific 
squawking  and  peeping  and  clucking  as  the  absurd 
bipeds  ran  about  in  an  utterly  bewildered  manner. 
The  children  and  Cousin  Ethel  managed  to  count 
them  fairly  well,  but  Cousin  Jack  had  to  manage 
his  motor. 


A  MOTOR  RIDE 

•'How  many?"  he  asked  as  the  last  hen  was 
left  behind. 

"  Fourteen  for  our  side,"  announced  Midget, 
triumphantly. 

"  And  nine  for  us,"  said  King.  "  Never  mind, 
we'll  make  up  later." 

But  they  kept  fairly  even.  To  be  sure,  when 
they  met  motor-cars,  or  any  vehicles,  they  had  to 
turn  out  to  the  right,  which  gave  the  count  to 
King's  side. 

But  on  the  other  hand,  motors  sometimes  passed 
them  from  behind,  and  if  they  went  along  on  the 
right  side  they  were  Marjorie's  count.  Houses 
were  as  apt  to  be  on  one  side  as  the  other,  and 
these  added  their  count  of  dogs,  cats,  chickens,  and 
cows,  as  well  as  occasional  human  beings. 

Going  through  small  towns  was  the  most  fun, 
for  then  it  required  quick  counting  to  get  all  that 
belonged  to  them. 

A  flock  of  birds  on  either  side  was  counted,  but 
a  flock  of  birds  that  crossed  their  path  was  omit- 
ted, as  it  would  have  counted  the  same  for  each. 

The  game  grew  more  and  more  exciting.  Some- 
times one  side  would  be  more  than  a  hundred 
ahead,  and  then  the  balance  would  swing  back 
the  other  way.  About  six  o'clock  they  neared 
Lakewood. 

"  The  game   stops  as  we   turn  into  the  main 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

street,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  "  and  the  prize  is  this : 
whichever  of  you  two  children  win  shall  select  the 
dessert  at  the  hotel  dinner  to-night." 

"  All  right,"  said  Marjorie,  "  but  it  isn't  only 
us  children.  We  each  have  a  partner  who  must 
help  us  in  the  selection." 

Cousin  Jack  agreed  to  this,  and  in  a  moment  the 
car  swung  into  the  main  street  of  Lakewood. 

Midget  and  King,  who  had  kept  account  of  their 
hundreds  on  a  bit  of  paper,  began  to  add  up,  and 
it  was  soon  found  that  Marjorie  and  Cousin 
Jack's  side  had  won  by  about  two  hundred  points. 

"  Good  work !  "  cried  King.  "  We  losers  con- 
gratulate you,  and  beg  you'll  remember  that  we 
love  ice  cream !  " 

They  were  following  the  Maynards'  big  car,  and 
soon  both  cars  stopped  and  all  alighted  and  went 
into  a  beautiful  hotel  called  "  Holly-in-the- 
Woods." 

"Oh,  how  lovely!"  whispered  Marjorie  to 
Kitty,  as  she  squeezed  her  sister's  arm.  "  Isn't 
this  fun,  Kit?  " 

"I  should  say  so!"  returned  Kitty.  "The 
best  Ourday  ever !  " 

Then  the  children  were  whisked  away  to  tidy 
up  for  dinner,  and  fresh  white  frocks  were  found 
in  the  suitcases.  Midget  and  Kitty  tied  each 
other's  ribbons,  and  soon  were  ready  to  go  down- 


A  MOTOR  RIDE  213 

stairs  again.  The  Bryants  met  them  in  the  hall, 
and  took  them  down. 

"Isn't  it  like  Fairyland!"  said  Marjorie,  en- 
chanted by  the  palms  and  flowers  and  lights  and 
music.  She  had  never  before  been  in  such  an 
elaborate  hotel,  and  she  wanted  to  see  it  all. 

They  walked  about,  and  looked  at  the  various 
beautiful  rooms,  and  then  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maynard 
came,  and  they  all  went  to  the  dining-room. 

A  table  had  been  reserved  for  them,  and  Mar- 
jorie felt  very  grown  up  and  important  as  the 
waiter  pushed  up  her  chair.  After  their  long 
ride,  their  appetites  were  quite  in  order  to  do 
justice  to  the  good  things  put  before  them,  and 
when  it  was  time  for  dessert,  Cousin  Jack  an- 
nounced that  he  and  Marjorie  were  a  committee 
of  two  to  select  it. 

"  Though  of  course,"  he  added,  "  any  one  who 
doesn't  care  for  what  we  choose  is  entirely  at  lib- 
erty to  choose  something  else." 

So  the  two  gravely  studied  the  menu,  and  kept 
the  others  in  suspense  while  they  read  over  the 
long  list.  Many  names  were  in  French,  but  Mar- 
jorie skipped  those. 

"  Ice  cream,"  Kitty  kept  whispering,  in  low  but 
distinct  stage  whispers;  and  at  last  Cousin  Jack 
proposed  to  Midget  that  they  choose  what  was 
billed  as  a  "  Lakewood  Souvenir." 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Marjorie  had  no  idea  what  this  might  be,  but 
she  agreed,  for  she  felt  sure  it  was  something 
nice. 

And  so  it  was,  for  it  turned  out  to  be  ice  cream, 
but  so  daintily  put  up  in  a  little  box  that  it  was 
like  a  present.  The  box  was  carved  with  crinkly 
paper,  and  had  a  pretty  picture  of  Lakewood 
scenery  framed  in  gilt  on  the  top.  After  every 
one  had  eaten  his  ice  cream,  the  boxes  were  carried 
away  as  souvenirs. 

Then  they  all  went  out  and  sat  on  the  terrace 
while  the  elders  had  coffee.  The  three  children 
did  not  drink  coffee,  so  they  were  allowed  to  run 
around  the  grounds  a  little. 

"  How  long  are  we  going  to  stay  here?  "  asked 
Kitty. 

"  Till  to-morrow  afternoon,  I  think,"  replied 
King.  "  I  heard  Father  say  he  thought  he'd  do 
that." 

"  I  think  it's  beautiful,"  said  Midget,  "  but  I'd 
just  as  lieve  be  riding,  wouldn't  you,  Kit?" 

"  Oh,  I  don't  care.  I  like  'em  both, — first  one 
and  then  the  other." 

Kitty  was  of  a  contented  disposition,  and  usually 
liked  everything.  But  the  other  two  were  also 
easily  pleased,  and  the  three  agreed  that  they 
didn't  care  whether  they  were  motoring  or  staying 
at  the  lovely  hotel. 


A  MOTOR  RIDE 

"  Now,  then,  little  Maynards,  bed  for  yours !  *' 
announced  their  father,  as  he  came  strolling  out 
to  find  them. 

"  Father,"  said  Marjorie,  grasping  his  hand, 
"  is  this  really  an  Ourday  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Midget ;  of  course  it  is.  You  don't  mind 
the  Bryants  sharing  it,  do  you?  " 

"  No,  not  a  bit.  Only, — to-morrow  can't  I  ride 
with  you?  If  it's  our  Ourday,  I  like  better  to  be 
by  you." 

"  Of  course  you  can ! "  cried  Mr.  Maynard, 
heartily.  "  We'll  fix  it  somehow." 

"  But  don't  tell  Cousin  Ethel  and  Cousin  Jack 
that  I  don't  want  to  ride  with  them,"  went  on 
Midget,  "  because  it  might  hurt  their  feelings. 
But  you  know, — when  I  thought  I  didn't  have  any 
father, — I  thought  about  all  our  Ourdays, 
and " 

Midget's  voice  broke,  and  Mr.  Maynard  caught 
her  to  him. 

"  My  darling  little  girl,"  he  said,  "  I'm  so  glad 
you're  back  with  us  for  our  Ourdays,  and  you  shall 
ride  just  where  you  want  to." 

"  Let  her  take  my  place,"  said  Kitty,  kindly. 
"  I'd  just  as  lieve  go  in  the  other  car,  and  I  don't 
wonder  Midget  feels  like  that." 

So  it  was  settled  that  Kitty  should  ride  with  the 
Bryants  next  day,  and  then  the  three  children  were 


216  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

sent  to  bed,  while  the  elders  stayed  up  a  few  hours 
later. 

The  girls  had  a  large  room,  with  two  beds,  and 
with  a  delightful  balcony,  on  which  a  long  French 
window  opened. 

"  Isn't  it  wonderful?  "  said  Marjorie,  softly,  as 
she  stepped  over  the  sill,  and  stood  in  the  soft 
moonlight,  looking  down  on  the  hotel  flower 
gardens. 

"  Yes,  indeedy,"  agreed  Kitty ;  "  I  say,  Mops, 
I'd  like  to  jump  down,  flip !  into  that  geranium 
bed!" 

"  Oh,  Kitty,  what  a  goose  you  are !  Don't  do 
such  a  thing !  " 

"  I'm  not  going  to.  I  only  said  I'd  like  to ;  and 
I'd  play  it  was  a  sea, — a  geranium  sea,  and  I'd 
swim  around  in  it." 

"  Kit,  you're  crazy !  Come  on  to  bed,  before 
you  do  anything  foolish." 

"  I'm  not  going  to  do  it,  really,  Mops !  but  I 
like  to  imagine  it.  I'd  waft  myself  off  of  this 
balcony,  and  waft  down  to  the  scarlet  of  the 
geraniums  and  fall  in." 

"  Yes,  and  be  picked  up  with  two  broken  legs 
and  a  sprained  ankle !  " 

"  Well — and  then  I'd  see  a  little  boat,  on  the 
red  geranium  sea, — I'd  be  a  fairy,  you  know, — and 
I'd  get  in  the  little  boat " 


A  MOTOR  RIDE  217 

"  You  come  and  get  in  your  little  bed,  Miss 
Kitty,"  said  Nannie,  from  the  window,  and  laugh- 
ing gayly>  the  two  girls  went  in  and  went  to  bed. 

"  Anyway,  I'm  going  to  dream  of  that  red 
geramium  bed,"  announced  Kitty,  as  she  cuddled 
into  the  smooth,  white  sheets. 

"  All  right,"  said  Midget,  drowsily ;  "  dream 
anything  you  like." 


CHAPTER  XVI 

RED    GERANIUMS 

WEARIED  by  the  journey,  and  the  fun  of  it,  Mar- 
jorie  fell  at  once  into  a  deep,  quiet  sleep.  Kitty's 
sleep  was  deep,  too,  but  not  quiet.  The  child 
tossed  around  and  waved  her  arms,  muttering 
about  a  geranium  sea,  and  a  little  boat  on  it. 

Nurse  Nannie  puttered  about  the  room  for  some 
time,  picking  up  things,  and  laying  out  the  girls' 
clothes  for  the  next  day.  Then  she  put  out  the 
lights  and  went  away  to  her  own  room. 

It  was,  perhaps,  ten  o'clock  when  Kitty  threw 
back  the  bedclothing,  and  slowly  got  out  of  bed. 
She  was  sound  asleep,  and  she  walked  across  the 
room  with  a  wavering,  uncertain  motion,  but  went 
straight  to  the  French  window,  which  was  still  part 
way  open. 

Kitty  had  sometimes  walked  in  her  sleep  before, 
but  ifr  was  not  really  a  habit  with  her,  and  the 
family  had  never  thought  it  necessary  to  safe- 
guard her. 

It  was  a  still,  warm  night,  and  when  she  stepped 
out  on  the  balcony,  there  was  no  breeze  or  waft  of 
cool  air  to  awaken  her. 

218 


RED  GERANIUMS 

She  paused  at  the  low  rail  of  the  little  balcony, 
and  murmured,  "  Oh,  the  lovely  soft  red  flowers ! 
I  will  lie  down  on  them ! "  and  over  the  railing  she 
went,  plump  down  into  the  geranium  bed ! 

As  is  well  known,  a  fall  is  not  apt  to  hurt  a 
somnambulist,  for  the  reason  that  in  sleep  the  mus- 
cles are  entirely  relaxed;  but  the  jar  woke  Kitty, 
and  she  found  herself,  clad  only  in  her  little  white 
nightgown,  lying  in  the  midst  of  the  red  blossoms. 

She  did  not  scream;  on  the  contrary,  she  felt 
a  strange  sense  of  delight  in  the  odorous  flowers 
and  the  scent  of  the  warm,  soft  earth. 

But  in  a  moment  she  realized  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  scrambled  up  into  a  sitting  posture. 

"  My  gracious !  it's  Kit  1 "  exclaimed  a  voice, 
and  from  among  the  group  of  people  on  the 
veranda  Cousin  Jack  ran  down  to  her.  The  others 
followed,  and  in  a  moment  Kitty  was  surrounded 
by  her  own  people.  She  flew  to  her  mother's  arms, 
and  Cousin  Ethel  quickly  drew  off  her  own  even- 
ing wrap  and  put  it  around  Kitty. 

"  How  did  you  happen  to  fall  ?  "  asked  her  fa- 
ther, who  soon  saw  she  was  not  hurt,  or  even  badly 
jarred. 

"  I  was  asleep,  I  guess,"  Kitty  returned ;  "  any- 
way I  dreamed  that  I  wanted  to  jump  in  the  red 
geranium  sea, — so  I  jumped." 

"  You  jumped!  out  of  the  window?  " 


220  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Yes, — that  is,  off  of  the  little  balcony.  You 
see,  I  was  asleep  until  I  landed.  Then  I  found  out 
where  I  was." 

Kitty  was  quite  calm  about  it,  and  cuddled  into 
the  folds  of  Cousin  Ethel's  satin  cloak,  while  she 
told  her  story. 

"  Of  course,  I  shouldn't  have  jumped  if  I  had 
been  awake,"  she  said ;  "  but  you  can't  help  what 
you  do  in  your  sleep,  can  you?  " 

"  No,"  said  Uncle  Steve ;  "  you  weren't  a  bit  to 
blame,  Kitsie,  and  I'm  thankful  you  came  down 
so  safely.  But  I  think  that  window  must  be  fas- 
tened before  you  go  to  sleep  again.  One  such 
escapade  is  enough  for  one  night." 

The  other  guests  on  the  veranda  looked  curi- 
ously at  the  group,  but  Kitty  was  protected  from 
view  by  her  own  people,  and,  too,  the  big  cloak 
hid  all  deficiencies  of  costume. 

"  Well,  we  have  to  get  used  to  these  unexpected 
performances,"  said  Mr.  Maynard,  "  but  I  do  be- 
lieve my  children  are  more  ingenious  than  others 
in  trumping  up  new  games." 

"  We  are,"  said  Kitty,  "  but  usually  it's  Midget 
who  does  the  crazy  things.  King  and  I  don't  cut 
up  jinks  much." 

"  That's  so,"  agreed  Uncle  Steve.  "  Last  sum- 
mer Miss  Mischief  kept  us  all  in  hot  water.  But 
this  year,  Kitsie  has  been  a  model  of  propriety. 


She  never  walks  out  of  second-story  windows  when 
she's  at  our  house.  I  guess  I'd  better  take  her 
back  there." 

"  Not  to-morrow,"  said  Kitty.  "  Wait  till  next 
day,  won't  you,  Uncle  Steve?." 

"  All  right ;  day  after  to-morrow,  then.  But 
i  we  mustn't  stay  away  from  Grandma  longer  than 
that." 

"  And  now  I  think  our  adventurous  little  ex- 
plorer must  go  back  to  her  dreams,"  said  Mrs. 
Maynard.  "  Who  wants  to  carry  her  up- 
•stairs?  " 

As  Uncle  Steve  was  the  biggest  and  strongest 
of  the  three  men,  he  picked  up  the  young  sleep- 
walker, and  started  off  with  her.  Mrs.  Maynard 
followed,  and  they  soon  had  Kitty  safely  in  bed 
again,  with  the  French  window  securely  fastened 
against  any  further  expeditions. 

The  mother  sat  by  the  little  girl  until  she  went 
to  sleep,  and  this  time  her  slumber  was  untroubled 
by  dreams  of  geranium  seas  with  fairy  boats  on 
them. 

Next  morning,  Marjorie  was  greatly  interested 
in  Kitty's  story. 

"  Oh,  Kit,"  she  exclaimed,  "  I  wish  I  had  seen 
you  step  off!  Though,  of  course,  if  I  had  seen 
you,  you  wouldn't  have  done  it!  For  I  should 
have  waked  you  up.  Well,  it's  a  wonder  you  didn't 


smash  yourself.  Come  on,  let's  hurry  down  and 
look  at  that  flower  bed." 

But  by  the  time  the  girls  got  down  there,  the 
hotel  gardener  had  remade  the  flower  bed,  and  it 
now  looked  as  if  no  one  had  ever  set  foot  on  it. 

"Pshaw!"  said  Marjorie,  "they've  fixed  it  all 
up,  and  we  can't  even  see  where  you  landed.  Did 
it  make  a  big  hole,  Kit  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  Mops.  About  as  big  as  I  am, 
I  suppose.  Can't  you  imagine  it  ?  " 

Marjorie  laughed.  "  Yes,  I  can  imagine  you 
landing  there,  in  your  nightgown  and  bare  feet ! 
How  you  must  have  looked !  " 

"  I  s'pose  I  did.  But,  somehow,  Mops,  when  I 
found  myself  there,  it  didn't  seem  queer  at  all.  I 
just  wanted  to  float  on  the  red  flowers." 

"  Kit,  I  do  believe  you're  half  luny,"  observed 
King;  "  you  have  the  craziest  ideas.  But  I'm  jolly 
glad  you  didn't  get  hurt,  you  old  sleep-trotter !  " 
and  the  boy  pulled  his  sister's  curls  to  express  his 
deep  affection  and  gratitude  for  her  safety. 

Kitty  was  none  the  worse  for  her  fall.  The  soft 
loam  of  the  newly  made  flower  bed  had  received 
her  gently,  and  not  even  a  bruise  had  resulted. 

But  the  elders  decided  that  hereafter  the  exits 
from  Kitty's  bedroom  must  be  properly  safe- 
guarded at  night,  as  no  one  could  tell  when  the 
impulse  of  sleep-walking  might  overtake  her. 


RED  GERANIUMS  223 

There  was  plenty  to  do  at  Lakewood.  Uncle 
Steve  took  the  children  for  a  brisk  walk  through 
the  town,  and  bought  them  souvenirs  of  all  sorts. 
The  shops  displayed  tempting  wares,  and  the  girls 
were  made  happy  by  bead  necklaces  and  pretty 
little  silk  bags,  while  King  rejoiced  in  queer  Indian 
relics  found  in  a  curio  shop.  Then  back  to  the 
hotel,  for  a  game  of  tennis  and  a  romp  with  Cousin 
Jack,  and  in  the  afternoon  a  long  motor  ride,  with 
occasional  stops  for  ice  cream  soda  or  peanuts. 

And  the  next  day  Kitty  and  Uncle  Steve  went 
home.  They  concluded  to  take  the  train  from 
Lakewood,  and  not  return  again  to  Seacote. 

"  Grandma  will  be  getting  anxious  to  see  us," 
Uncle  Steve  declared.  "  I  did  not  intend  to  stay 
as  long  as  this  when  I  left  home." 

"  Good-bye,  old  Kitsie,"  said  Midget;  "don't 
walk  into  any  more  red  seas,  and  write  to  me 
often,  won't  you?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will,  Midge ;  but  you  don't  write  very 
often,  yourself." 

"  I  know  it ;  it's  a  sort  of  a  bother  to  write 
letters.  But  I  love  to  get  them." 

"  Well,  the  summer  will  be  over  pretty  soon," 
returned  Kitty,  "  and  then  we'll  all  be  back  in 
Rockwell." 

The  Maynard  children  were  philosophical,  and 
so  they  parted  with  cheery  good-byes,  and  the  train 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

steamed  away  with  Uncle  Steve  and  Kitty  waving 
from  the  window. 

"  Now,  for  our  own  plans,"  said  Mr.  Maynard. 
"  What  shall  we  do  next,  Jack?  " 

"  I  know  what  I'd  like,"  said  Cousin  Ethel. 

"What  is  it,  my  Angel?"  asked  her  husband. 
"  You  may  most  certainly  have  anything  you 
want." 

"  Well,  instead  of  going  right  back  to  Seacote, 
I'd  like  to  go  to  Atlantic  City." 

"  You  would !  "  said  Mr.  Bryant.  "  And  would 
you  like  to  go  around  by  Chicago,  and  stop  at 
San  Francisco  on  your  way  home?" 

"  No,"  said  Cousin  Ethel,  laughing ;  "  and  I 
don't  think  Atlantic  City  is  so  very  far.  We  could 
go  there  to-day,  stay  over  to-morrow,  and  back 
to  Seacote  the  day  after.  What  do  you  think, 
Jack?  " 

"  I  think  your  plan  is  great !  And  I'm  more 
than  ready  to  carry  it  out,  if  these  Maynards  of 
ours  agree  to  it." 

"I'd  like  it,"  declared  Marjorie.  "I've  never 
been  to  Atlantic  City." 

"But  it  isn't  exactly  a  summer  place,  is  it?" 
asked  Mrs.  Maynard.  , 

"  Neither  is  Lakewood,"  said  Cousin  Ethel. 
"  But  it's  a  cool  spell  just  now,  and  I  think  it 
would  be  lots  of  fun  to  run  down  there." 


RED  GERANIUMS  225 

"  All  right,"  said  Mr.  Maynard,  "  let's  run." 

And  run  they  did.  Considering  they  had  nine 
people  and  two  motors,  and  several  suitcases  to 
look  after,  they  displayed  admirable  expedition 
in  getting  started,  and  just  at  dusk  they  came 
upon  the  brilliant  radiance  of  the  lights  of 
Atlantic  City. 

"  This  was  a  fine  idea  of  yours,  Ethel,"  said 
Mrs.  Maynard.  "  This  place  looks  very  at- 
tractive." 

"  Oh,  isn't  it!  "  cried  Marjorie.  "  I  think  it's 
grand !  Can't  we  stay  up  late  to-night,  Mother?  " 

"  You  may  stay  up  till  nine  o'clock,  Midget,  and 
we'll  go  down  and  see  the  crowds  on  the  Board- 
walk." 

So  after  dinner  they  went  down  to  the  gay 
thoroughfare  known  as  the  Boardwalk.  It  was 
crowded  with  merry,  laughing,  chattering  people, 
and  Midget  danced  along  in  an  ecstasy  of  en- 
joyment. 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  lot  of  people ! "  she  ex- 
claimed. "  Where  are  they  all  going  ?  " 

"  Nowhere  in  particular,"  said  her  father. 
"  They're  just  out  here  to  look  at  each  other  and 
enjoy  themselves." 

"  See  those  funny  chairs,  on  rollers,"  went  on 
Midget.  "  Oh,  can't  we  ride  in  them?  Everybody 
else  does." 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Of  course  we  must,"  said  her  father.  "  It's 
part  of  the  performance." 

He  engaged  three  rolling  chairs,  and  as  each 
chair  held  two  people,  he  said,  "  How  shall  we 
divide  up?  " 

"  I'll  take  Mehitabel,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  "  and 
Hezekiah  can  go  with  my  wife.  Then  you  two 
elder  Maynards  can  use  the  third.  How's 
that?  " 

This  arrangement  was  satisfactory  and  they 
started  off,  a  strong  man  pushing  each  chair. 

"Don't  you  think  this  is  fun,  Cousin  Jack?" 
Disked  Marjorie,  as  she  watched  the  crowds  and 
"the  lights,  and  Old  Ocean  rolling  big  black  waves 
up  on  the  shore. 

"  Yes,  Mehitabel,  I  think  it's  gay.  There's  a 
certain  something  at  this  place  that  you  never 
see  anywhere  else." 

"  Yes,  it's  quite  different  from  Seacote,  isn't  it? 
Everybody  here  seems  to  be  in  a  hurry." 

"  That's  only  because  it's  such  a  big  and  lively 
crowd.  Here  we  are  at  the  pier.  I  think  we'd 
better  go  in  and  hear  the  music." 

So  they  dismissed  the  chairmen,  and  went  far 
down  the  long  pier  to  listen  to  a  concert. 

A  children's  dance  was  being  held,  and  Marjorie 
sat  down,  enraptured  at  the  sight. 

of  boys  and  girls  about  her  own  age,  in 


RED  GERANIUMS  227 

fancy  costumes,  were  dancing  and  pirouetting  in 
time  with  the  fine  music.  One  little  girl,  especially, 
Marjorie  admired.  She  was  a  pretty  child,  in  a 
white  frock  and  blue  sash,  and  she  wore  a  wreath 
of  small  rosebuds  on  her  curly,  flaxen  hair.  She 
seemed  to  be  the  best  of  all  the  dancers,  and  twice 
she  danced  alone,  doing  marvellous  fancy  steps  and 
receiving  great  applause  from  the  audience. 

"  Isn't  she  lovely  !  "  exclaimed  Midget.  "  I  wish 
I  could  dance  like  that." 

"  You  never  can,  Mopsy,"  said  King.  "  You're 
too  heavy.  That  girl  is  a  featherweight." 

"  She  looks  nice,"  said  Midget.  "  I'd  like  to 
know  her." 

And  then,  as  it  was  nearing  nine  o'clock,  they 
left  the  dancing  pavilion,  and  made  their  way 
back  to  their  hotel. 

Marjorie  kept  close  to  her  parents,  for  the 
crowd  seemed  to  grow  denser  all  the  time,  and  if 
she  lost  sight  of  her  people,  she  feared  she'd  be 
swept  away  from  them  forever. 

They  were  staying  at  Madden  Hall,  and  as  they 
reached  it,  there,  too,  music  was  being  played,  and 
some  people  were  dancing  in  the  big  ballroom. 
But  there  were  no  children  about,  so  Midget 
trotted  off  to  bed  cheerfully,  with  lots  of  pleasant 
anticipations  for  the  morrow. 

At  breakfast,  next   morning,   she  was   looking 


228  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

around  the  dining  room,  when  she  spied  the  same 
little  girl  who  had  danced  so  prettily  the  night 
before. 

"  Oh,  Mother  .  **  she  exclaimed,  "  there  she  is ! 
That  pretty  girl  that  danced.  See,  at  the  next 
table  but  two.  Yes,  it  is  the  same  one !  " 

"  Sure  it  is,"  agreed  King.  "  She's  staying 
here.  Perhaps  we  can  get  acquainted  with  her, 
Mops." 

"  Could  we,  Mother?    Would  it  be  right?  " 

"  We'll  see  about  it,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard,  smit- 
ing at  her  impulsive  daughter.  After  breakfast 
the  Maynard  party  walked  out  on  the  veranda,  and 
Midget  soon  saw  the  little  girl,  in  a  big  rocking 
chair  not  far  away. 

"  May  I  go  over  and  speak  to  her,  Mother  ?  "  she 
said. 

"  Why,  yes,  Midget,  if  you  like.  She  looks 
like  a  nice  child.  Run  along." 

So  Midget  went  over  and  took  the  next  rocking 
chair,  for  there  were  many  chairs,  ranged  in  long 
rows. 

"  I  came  over  to  talk  to  you,"  she  said ;  "  I  saw 
you  dance  last  night,  and  I  think  you  do  dance 
lovely." 

"  Do  you  ?  "  said  the  little  girl.  She  seemed 
diffident,  but  pleased  at  Marjorie's  words.  "  You 
see,  it  was  a  Children's  Carnival,  and  Mamma  let 


RED  GERANIUMS  229 

me  dance.  I  never  danced  in  a  place  like  that  be- 
fore, and  I  was  a  little  scared  at  first." 

"  You  didn't  look  scared.  You  just  looked 
lovely.  What's  your  name?  Mine's  Marjorie 
Maynard.  I  live  in  Rockwell,  when  I'm  home." 

"  Mine's  Ruth  Rowland,  and  I  live  in  Philadel- 
phia, when  I'm  home.  But  we're  spending-  the 
summer  in  Seacote.  We  just  came  down  here  for 
a  week." 

"  In  Seacote !  Why,  that's  where  we're  spend- 
ing the  summer.  We  have  a  house  on  Fairway 
Avenue." 

"  Oh,  I  know  that  house.  I  remember  seeing  you 
there  when  I've  passed  by.  Isn't  it  funny  that 
we  should  happen  to  meet  here!  We  live  farther 
down,  past  the  pier,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  I  know.  Will  you  come  to  see  me  after 
we  both  get  back  there  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed  I  will.  When  are  you  going 
back?" 

"  To-morrow,  I  think.    When  are  you?  " 

"  In  a  few  days.     Do  you  know  Cicely  Ross?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  know  very  many  children  in  Sea- 
cote. Do  you  know  the  Craig  boys  ?  " 

"  No.  I  guess  we  don't  know  the  same  people. 
But  I  know  Hester  Corey,  and  you  do,  too,  'cause 
I've  seen  her  playing  in  your  yard." 

"  Oh,  yes,  Hester  plays  with  us  a  lot." 


230  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  She's  a  funny  girl,  isn't  she?  " 

"  Well,  she's  nice  sometimes,  and  sometimes  she 
isn't.  Here's  my  brother  King.  King,  this  is 
Ruth  Rowland,  and  what  do  you  think?  She  lives 
in  Seacote !  I  mean,  for  the  summer  she's  staying 
there." 

"  Good  !  "  cried  King.  "  We  can  play  together 
then,  after  we  go  back." 

The  three  children  rapidly  became  good  friends, 
and  soon  Ruth  proposed  that  they  all  go  for  a 
ride  in  a  roller  chair. 

"  They  have  wide  chairs,"  she  said,  "  that  will 
hold  all  three  of  us." 

Midget  ran  to  ask  her  mother  if  they  might  do 
this,  but  Mrs.  Maynard  was  not  willing  that  the 
children  should  go  alone. 

"  But  Nannie  and  Rosamond  may  go,  too,  in 
another  chair,"  she  said,  "  and  then  I  shall  feel 
that  you  are  looked  after." 

So  down  to  the  Boardwalk  they  went,  and  Nurse 
Nannie  and  Rosy  Posy  took  one  chair,  and  the 
three  children  took  another.  They  selected  a  wide 
one  which  gave  them  plenty  of  room,  and  off  they 
started. 

It  was  a  lovely,  clear  day,  and  the  blue  sky  and 
the  darker  blue  ocean  met  at  the  far  distant 
horizon,  with  whitecaps  dotted  all  over  the  crests 
of  the  waves.  A  few  ships  and  steamers  were  to 


RED  GERANIUMS  231 

be  seen,  but  mostly  the  children's  attention  was 
attracted  to  the  scenes  on  shore. 

"  I  thought  it  was  lovely  last  night,"  said  Mid- 
get, "  but  it's  even  nicer  now.  The  booths  and 
shops  are  so  gay  and  festive,  and  the  ladies  all 
look  so  pretty  in  their  summer  frocks  and  bright 
parasols." 

They  stopped  occasionally,  for  soda  water  or 
candy,  and  once  they  stopped  at  a  camera  place 
and  had  their  pictures  taken  in  the  rolling  chairs. 

King  proposed  this,  because  he  saw  a  great 
many  people  doing  it,  and  as  the  man  finished  up 
the  pictures  at  once,  the  children  were  delighted 
with  the  postcards. 

"  I'll  send  one  to  Kit,"  said  Midget,  "  she'll  love 
it.  And  I'll  send  one  to  Grandma  Maynard." 

Ruth  had  several  of  the  pictures,  too,  and  she 
said  she  should  send  some  to  friends  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

"  She's  an  awfully  nice  girl,"  said  Marjorie  to 
her  mother,  when  telling  of  their  morning's  do- 
ings. "  I'm  so  glad  she's  at  Seacote.  We're  going 
to  have  lots  of  fun  when  we  get  back." 

"  I'm  glad,  too,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard.  "  For 
you  have  so  few  acquaintances  there,  and  Ruth  is 
certainly  a  very  sweet  child." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

WHAT    HESTER    DID 

"  I  WON'T  have  her ! "  declared  Hester.  "  I'm 
Queen  of  this  Court,  and  I  won't  have  any  new 
members  taken  in.  You  had  no  right,  Marjorie 
Maynard,  to  ask  her  to  belong,  without  consulting 
me!" 

"  Why,  Hester,  I  had  so !  You  may  be  Queen, 
but  you  don't  own  the  whole  Sand  Club !  And 
Ruth  Rowland  is  a  lovely  girl.  How  can  you  dis- 
like her,  when  you  know  how  sweet  and  pretty  she 
is.  She  says  she  knows  you." 

"  Yes,  I  do  know  her.  Stuck-up,  yellow-haired 
thing!" 

Sand  Court  was  in  full  session,  and  all  had  been 
going  on  amicably  until  Marjorie  had  chanced  to 
mention  meeting  Ruth  at  Atlantic  City,  and  said 
she  had  asked  her  to  come  to  the  Sand  Club  meet- 
ings. At  this,  Hester  had  flown  into  one  of  her 
rages,  and  declared  that  Ruth  should  not  become 
a  member  of  their  little  circle. 

"  Look  here,  Hester  Corey,"  said  Tom  Craig, 
"  you  promised,  if  you  could  be  Queen,  to  be  al- 
232 


WHAT  HESTER  DID  233 

ways  sweet  and  pleasant.  Do  you  call  this  keep- 
ing your  promise?  " 

"  Pooh,  who  cares !  I  only  promised,  if  the  club 
stayed  just  the  same.  If  you're  going  to  put  in 
a  lot  of  new  members  without  asking  me,  my  prom- 
ise doesn't  count." 

"  Ruth  isn't  '  a  lot,'  "  said  Marjorie,  laughing 
at  Hester's  fury. 

But  her  laughter  only  made  Queen  Sandy  more 
angry  than  ever. 

"  I  don't  care  if  she  isn't !  She's  a  new  mem- 
ber, and  I  won't  have  any  new  members, — so,  there, 
now ! " 

"Say,  Hester,"  began  King,  "I  don't  think 
you're  boss  of  this  club.  Just  because  you're 
Queen,  you  don't  have  any  more  say  than  the 
Grand  Sandjandrum,  or  me,  or  anybody." 

*'  I  do,  too !  A  Queen  has  all  the  say, — about 
everything !  And  I  say  there  sha'n't  be  any  more 
people  in  this  club,  and  so  there  sha'n't !  " 

Hester  stamped  her  foot  and  shook  her  fist  and 
wagged  her  head  in  the  angriest  possible  way,  and 
if  the  others  hadn't  been  so  exasperated  by  her 
ill-temper  they  must  have  laughed  at  the  funny 
picture  she  made.  Her  new  crown  was  tumbled 
sideways,  her  hair  ribbons  had  come  off,  and  her 
face,  flushed  red  and  angry,  was  further  disfigured 
by  a  disagreeable  scowl. 


234  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

And  just  at  this  moment  Ruth  arrived.  She 
came  in,  smiling,  neatly  dressed  in  a  clean  print 
frock,  and  broad  straw  hat  with  a  wreath  of 
flowers  round  it. 

"  Hello,  Marjorie,"  she  said,  a  little  shyly,  for 
she  didn't  know  the  Craig  boys,  and  she  couldn't 
help  seeing  that  Hester  was  in  a  fit  of  temper. 

"  Hello,  Ruth,"  said  Marjorie,  running  to  her, 
and  taking  her  by  the  hand.  "  Come  on  in ;  this 
is  Sand  Court.  These  are  the  Craig  boys, — Tom, 
Dick,  and  Harry.  And  this  is  our  Queen, — but  I 
think  you  know  Hester  Corey." 

"  Yes,"  began  Ruth,  but  Hester  cried  out :  "  I 
don't  want  her  to  know  me!  She  sha'n't  join  our 
club,  I  say !  " 

Ruth  looked  bewildered  at  first,  and  then  her 
sweet  little  face  wrinkled  up,  and  the  tears  came 
into  her  big  blue  eyes. 

"  Don't  cry,  Ruth,"  said  Midget,  putting  her 
arm  round  her ;  "  Hester  is  sort  of  mad  this  morn- 
ing, but  I  guess  she'll  get  over  it.  Don't  mind 
her." 

"  I  won't  get  over  it,"  screamed  Hester.  "  I'm 
not  going  to  have  Ruth  Rowland  in  this  club !  " 

"  For  goodness  gracious  sakes,  children,  what  is 
the  matter?  " 

A  grown-up  voice  exclaimed  these  words,  and 
then  Mr.  Jack  Bryant  entered  Sand  Court.  He 


WHAT  HESTER  DID  235 

took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  but  pretended  to 
be  ignorant  of  the  true  state  of  things. 

"  What's  up,  O  Queen  ?  "  he  said,  addressing 
Hester.  "  Oh,  sunny-faced,  honey-voiced  Queen 
of  Sand  Court,  what,  I  prithee,  is  up?  " 

"  Nothing,"  growled  Hester,  looking  sullen. 

"  Nay,  nay,  not  so,  sweet  Queen ;  I  bethink  me 
there  is  much  up,  indeed !  Else  why  these  unusual 
consternations  on  the  faces  of  thy  courtiers?" 

Of  course,  Cousin  Jack  knew  all  about  the  do- 
ings of  Sand  Court.  He  had  often  been  with  them, 
and  delighted  them  all  by  talking  "  Court  lan- 
guage," but  to-day  nobody  responded  to  his  pleas- 
antry. Ruth  and  Marjorie  were  on  the  verge  of 
tears,  the  boys  were  all  angry  at  Hester,  and 
Hester  herself  was  in  one  of  her  wildest  furies. 

She  refused  to  answer  Cousin  Jack,  and  sat  on 
her  throne,  shrugging  her  shoulders  and  twitching 
about,  with  every  cross  expression  possible  on 
her  pouting  face.  Mr.  Bryant  became  more 
serious. 

"  Children,"  he  said,  "  this  won't  do.  This 
Sand  Club  is  a  jolly,  good-natured  club,  usually, 
and  now  that  I  see  you  all  at  sixes  and  sevens,  I 
want  to  know  what's  the  matter.  Midget,  will  you 
tell  me?" 

"  I  want  Ruth  Rowland  to  be  in  our  club,"  said 
Marjorie,  straightforwardly;  "  and  Hester  doesn't 


#36  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

want  her.  And  Hester  says  that  because  she  is 
Queen,  we  must  all  do  as  she  says." 

"  Ah,  ha ;  um,  hum.  Well,  Hester,  my  dear 
child,  why  don't  you  want  Ruth  in  the  club?  " 

"  Because  I  don't !  "  and  the  Queen  looked  more 
disagreeable  than  ever. 

"  Because  you  don't!  Well,  now,  you  see,  my 
dear,  that  is  just  no  reason  at  all,  so  Ruth  can 
be  a  member,  as  far  as  you're  concerned." 

"  No,  she  can't !     I  won't  have  her  in !  " 

"Why?" 

"  Because  I  don't  like  her !  " 

"  Ah,  now  we're  getting  at  it.  And  suppose 
any  of  the  club  shouldn't  like  you;  then  you 
couldn't  be  a  member,  could  you  ?  " 

"  They  do  like  me !  "  declared  Hester. 

"  Like  you !  like  you!  A  girl  that  flies  into 
rages,  and  says  unkind  things?  Oh,  no,  nobody 
could  like  a  girl  like  that!  Now,  I'll  fix  it.  You, 
Hester,  won't  have  Ruth  in  the  club,  you  say. 
Well,  then  if  you're  not  in  the  club  yourself,  of 
course  Ruth  could  come  in.  So,  the  rest  of  the 
club  can  choose  which  of  you  two  girls  they'd 
rather  have,  as  it  seems  impossible  to  have  you 
both.  King,  as  the  oldest,  I'll  ask  you  first.  Will 
you  choose  to  have  Hester  or  Ruth  in  this  club  ?  " 

"  Ruth,"  said  King,  promptly.  "  She  doesn't 
quarrel  all  the  time." 


WHAT  HESTER  DID  237 

"  Next,  Tom.     Which  do  you  choose?  " 

"  Ruth,"  replied  Tom. 

"  Why,  Tom  Craig ! "  cried  Hester,  in  sur- 
prise ;  "  you  never  saw  that  girl  till  to-day ! " 

"  No,  but  I've  seen  you,"  he  replied ;  "  and  I 
can  tell  you,  Hester,  I'm  tired  of  these  scraps 
you're  always  putting  up !  I  believe  we'll  have 
better  times  with  Ruth  Rowland." 

"  Marjorie,"  Cousin  Jack  went  on,  "  which  girl 
do  you  choose?  " 

"  I'd  like  them  both,"  said  Midget,  who  couldn't 
quite  bring  herself  to  denounce  Hester  entirely. 

"  But  Hester  won't  have  Ruth.  You  must 
choose  one  or  the  other." 

"  Then  I  choose  Ruth,  Cousin  Jack.  For  Hester 
does  make  me  a  lot  of  trouble." 

Midget  sighed  deeply,  for,  truly,  Hester  had 
caused  strife  in  the  club  from  its  very  beginning. 

The  two  smaller  boys  voted  decidedly  for  Ruth, 
and  then  Cousin  Jack  turned  to  Hester. 

"  You  see,"  he  said,  but  not  unkindly,  "  the 
club  has  unanimously  expressed  its  preference  for 
Ruth.  I  don't  see  that  you  can  do  anything  but 
take  your  hat  and  go  home." 

Hester  looked  at  him  in  amazement. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  she  cried.  "I  won't 
go  home!  I'm  Queen,  and  I'll  stay  here  and  be 
Queen !  Ruth  can  go  home !  " 


238  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Bryant,  more  decidedly  this 
time ;  "  Ruth  is  not  going  home.  You're  to  go 
home,  Hester.  I  happen  to  know  that  the  May- 
nard  children  and  the  Craig  boys  have  already 
shown  patience  and  unselfishness  toward  your 
tyranny  and  unreasonableness — now,  they're  not 
going  to  be  imposed  on  any  longer.  I'll  have  a 
voice  in  this  matter  myself.  Either  you'll  stay  in 
the  club  and  agree  to  have  Ruth  for  a  member 
also,  and  be  pleasant  and  kind  to  her,  or  else  you 
can  take  your  hat  and  go  home." 

Mr.  Bryant  spoke  quietly,  but  very  firmly.  He 
knew  all  the  club  had  been  through,  in  putting 
up  with  Hester's  tantrums,  and  he  thought  it  only 
fair  that  they  should  be  relieved  of  this  trouble- 
some member. 

"  I  won't  have  Ruth  in,"  she  repeated,  but  she 
dropped  her  eyes  before  Mr.  Bryant's  stern  glance. 

"  I'm  sorry,  Hester,  but  if  you  won't  have  Ruth 
in,  then  you  must  go  home,  yourself,  and  I  will 
ask  you  to  go  at  once." 

"  All  right,  I'm  glad  to  go  !  "  and  Hester  pulled 
off  her  crown  and  threw  it  on  the  ground,  and 
stamped  on  it.  Then  she  broke  in  two  her  pretty 
gilt  sceptre,  and  threw  that  doAvn.  She  flung  her 
hat  on  her  head  and  marched  out  of  Sand  Court 
with  angry  glances  at  each  one.  She  flirted  her 
skirts  and  twitched  her  shoulders,  and  though  she 


239 

said  nothing,  she  was  as  furious  a  little  girl  as 
can  well  be  imagined. 

Ruth  was  almost  frightened,  for  she  was  unac- 
customed to  such  scenes.  Nor  were  the  Maynards 
used  to  them,  except  as  they  had  seen  Hester  in 
her  rages  now  and  then. 

Cousin  Jack  looked  after  the  child  a  little  sadly. 
He  was  sorry  that  she  could  behave  so,  ^but  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  that  Midget  and  King  had  been 
imposed  on  by  Hester  for  a  long  time,  and  he  had 
determined  to  put  a  stop  to  it.  The  advent  of 
Ruth  gave  a  good  opportunity,  and  he  availed 
himself  of  it. 

A  silence  fell  on  them  all.  They  watched  Hester 
as  she  slowly  went  out  of  Sand  Court. 

But  as  she  started  across  the  lawn,  she  saw  a 
garden  hose  with  which  a  man  had  been  sprinkling 
the  grass.  He  had  gone  off  and  left  it  lying  on 
the  ground,  partly  turned  off. 

Hester  picked  it  up,  turned  it  on  to  run  full 
force,  and  whirling  herself  quickly  around  pointed 
it  straight  at  Ruth.  In  a  moment  the  child  was 
soaked, — her  pretty  fresh  dress  hung  limp  and 
wet,  her  curls  were  drenched,  and  the  swift  stream 
of  water  in  her  face  almost  knocked  her  over. 

Marjorie  sprang  to  Ruth's  side,  and  received  a 
drenching  herself. 

King  ran  to  Hester  to  take  the  hose  from  her, 


240  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

but  she  turned  it  full  in  his  face  and  sent  him 
sprawling  to  the  ground. 

The  Craig  boys  were  treated  the  same  way,  and 
when  Mr.  Bryant  manoeuvred  to  get  behind  Hester 
and  pinion  her  arms,  she  wheeled  and  sent  the 
splashing  stream  all  over  him. 

"  You  little  vixen ! "  cried  Cousin  Jack,  as,  un- 
heeding the  water,  he  grasped  her  right  arm. 

But  the  child  was  wonderfully  agile  and  like 
an  eel  she  squirmed  out  of  his  grasp,  and  wielding 
her  ungainly  weapon  with  her  left  hand,  she  again 
sprayed  the  water  on  the  two  girls. 

"  You  stop  that,  Hester  Corey ! "  yelled  King, 
as  he  scrambled  to  his  feet,  and  in  another  mo- 
ment he  and  Cousin  Jack  succeeded  in  getting  the 
hose  away  from  Hester. 

"  She  ought  to  have  it  turned  on  her  1 "  said 
Cousin  Jack,  looking  at  the  little  fury,  now 
dancing  up  and  down  in  her  angry  rage.  "  But, 
I  don't  want  anything  more  to  do  with  you,  miss. 
Go  home  at  once,  and  tell  your  mother  all  that  has 
happened." 

Glad  to  get  away  without  further  reprimand, 
Hester,  her  wrath  spent  now,  walked  slowly  across 
the  lawn  and  out  of  the  gate. 

"  She's  a  terror !  "  Cousin  Jack  commented ; 
"  now  forget  it,  kiddies,  and  let's  go  into  the  house 
and  get  dried  out.  Are  you  girlies  much  wet?  " 


WHAT  HESTER  DID  241 

"  Not  so  awfully,"  replied  Marjorie.  "  Mostly 
our  hair  and,  oh,  yes,  the  front  of  Ruth's  skirt  is 
soaked !  " 

"  Well,  we'll  build  a  fire  in  the  library,  and  hang 
ourselves  up  to  dry.  Come  on,  all  you  Sand  boys 
and  girls." 

They  went  in  the  house,  and  while  they  dried 
their  hair  and  clothes,  Cousin  Jack  told  them 
funny  stories  and  made  no  mention  of  Hester  or  of 
the  Sand  Club. 

"  Now  we're  going  to  play  a  game,"  he  an- 
nounced, after  everybody  was  dry,  and  the  fire  had 
died  away  to  ashes.  "  Here  are  the  things  to  play 
it  with." 

He  produced  what  looked  like  some  rolls  of 
ribbon,  and  six  pairs  of  scissors.  But  it  wasn't 
ribbon,  it  was  the  white  paper  that  comes  rolled 
in  with  ribbon,  when  bought  by  the  piece.  This 
paper  was  about  an  inch  wide  and  he  had  enough 
to  cut  six  pieces,  each  about  ten  feet  long. 

These  pieces  he  fastened  by  one  end  to  the 
wainscoting  with  thumb  tacks,  and  giving  the 
other  end  of  each  piece  to  one  of  the  children,  he 
bade  them  stand  in  a  row,  far  enough  away  to  hold 
their  paper  strips  out  straight  across  the  room. 

Then,  at  his  given  signal,  each  one  was  to  begin 
to  cut,  with  the  scissors,  straight  through  the  mid- 
dle of  the  paper,  lengthwise,  the  game  being  to  cut 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

clear  to  the  end  without  tearing  the  paper.  Of 
course,  if  carefully  done,  this  would  divide  each 
paper  into  two  strips  of  equal  width. 

But  the  game  was  also  to  see  which  reached 
the  end  first,  and  the  winner  was  promised  a  prize. 
If  the  scissors  inadvertently  cut  off  either  strip, 
the  player  was  "  out." 

"  Go !  "  cried  Cousin  Jack,  "  and  strive  only 
for  the  greatest  speed  consistent  with  safety.  If 
you  go  too  fast,  you're  very  likely  to  snip  ®ff 
your  strips ;  and  if  you  go  too  slow,  somebody  else 
will  beat  you.  Hurry  up,  Ruth,  you're  going 
evenly,  but  you'll  never  get  there  at  that  rate ! 
Oh,  hold  up,  Harry !  if  you  go  so  fast  you'll  snip 
it  off.  You're  terribly  close  to  one  edge,  now ! 
Ah,  there  you  go !  one  strip  is  chopped  right  off. 
Well,  never  mind,  my  boy,  stand  here  by  me,  and 
watch  the  others.  What,  Tom  out,  too?  Well, 
well,  Tom,  the  more  haste  the  less  speed !  Careful, 
Midget,  you'll  be  out  in  a  minute.  There  you  go ! 
Out  it  is,  for  Mehitabel !  Well,  we  have  three  still 
in  the  running.  Easy  does  it,  King!  You're 
getting  along  finely.  Hurry  up,  Ruth.  You  can 
go  faster  than  that,  and  still  be  safe.  Dick  just 
says  nothing  and  saws  wood.  That's  it,  Dick, 
slow  and  sure !  " 

Those  who  were  "  out  "  watched  the  others  with 
breathless  interest.  It  would  have  been  an  easy 


WHAT  HESTER  DID 

task  had  there  been  no  competition.  To  cut  a  long 
paper  into  two  strips  is  not  difficult,  but  to  cut 
that  paper  in  haste,  with  others  looking  on  and 
commenting,  is  more  trying.  The  scissors  seem 
bewitched.  The  paper  twists  and  curls,  and  one's 
fingers  seem  to  be  all  thumbs.  King  was  doing 
well,  but  he  gave  an  impatient  jerk  as  the  paper 
curled  round  his  finger,  and  then  he  was 
out. 

Dick  worked  steadily,  and  Ruth  plodded  slowly 
along. 

As  they  neared  the  end  at  the  same  time  the 
watchers  grew  greatly  excited. 

"  I  bet  on  Ruth !  "  cried  King ;  "  go  it,  Ruth ! 
get  up  !  g'lang  there !  " 

"Go  on,  Dick,"  cried  Marjorie.  "Clk!  Clk! 
go  'long ! " 

On  sped  the  cutters,  but  just  as  it  seemed  as  if 
they  must  finish  at  the  same  time,  Dick  gave  a 
little  nervous  jerk  at  his  paper,  and  it  tore  right 
off. 

"  Oh,"  said  Midget,  "  you're  out,  Dicksie !  " 

And  then  Ruth,  slowly  and  carefully,  cut  the 
last  few  inches  of  her  paper,  and  held  up  her 
two  strips  triumphantly.  She  looked  so  sweet  and 
happy  about  it  that  they  all  declared  she  ought 
to  have  been  the  winner,  and  Dick  said,  shyly: 
"  I'm  glad  jou  won." 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

The  prize  was  a  shell  box  that  Cousin  Jack  had 
brought  from  Atlantic  City,  and  Ruth  dimpled 
with  pleasure  as  she  took  it. 

"  Thank  you  so  much,  Mr.  Bryant,"  she  said, 
prettily ;  "  I  never  won  a  prize  before,  and  I  shall 
always  keep  it." 

"  I'm  glad  you  won  it,  Ruth,"  said  Cousin  Jack, 
"  and  I  want  you  to  let  it  help  you  forget  any 
unpleasantness  of  to-day.  Will  you  forget  all 
that  happened  at  Sand  Court,  and  just  remember 
that  the  Maynards  and  the  Craigs  are  kind  and 
polite  children,  and  never  mind  about  anybody  else. 
And  come  again  some  time,  and  play  in  Sand 
Court,  won't  you?  And  I'll  promise  you  a  good 
and  pleasant  time." 

Ruth  agreed  gladly  to  all  this,  and  then  she 
went  home,  so  happy  that  the  memory  of  her  pleas- 
ant hours  made  her  almost  forget  Hester's  rude- 
ness. 

"  Now,  kiddies,"  said  Mr.  Bryant,  after  she  had 
gone,  "  I  want  you,  too,  to  forget  all  about  Hes- 
ter's performance.  Don't  talk  it  over,  and  don't 
say  hard  things  of  Hester.  Just  forget  it,  and 
think  about  something  nice/' 

"  All  right,  Cousin  Jack,"  said  Midget,  "  we'll 
do  as  you  say.  Come  on,  boys,  let's  race  down 
to  the  beach !  " 

The  children  ran  away,  and  after  a  consulta- 


WHAT  HESTER  DID  245 

tion  with  Mrs.  Maynard,  Mr.  Bryant  set  out  to 
make  a  call  on  Mrs.  Corey. 

His  was  not  a  pleasant  task,  but  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  tell  her  frankly  of  Hester's  behavior,  and 
to  say  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maynard  couldn't  allow 
her  further  to  impose  on  their  children.  Mrs. 
Corey  didn't  resent  this  decree,  but  she  was  greatly 
pained  at  the  necessity  therefor. 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  do  with  Hester,"  she 
said,  sadly.  "  The  child  has  always  been  subject 
to  those  ungovernable  rages.  I  hope  she  will  out- 
grow them.  I  feel  sorry  for  her,  for  it  is  not 
really  her  fault.  She  tries  to  be  more  patient,  and 
sometimes  succeeds ;  then  suddenly  her  temper 
breaks  out  at  most  unexpected  moments." 

Mr.  Bryant  did  not  say  what  he  thought;  that 
Hester  was  a  spoiled  child,  and  that  had  her 
mother  taught  her  how  sinful  such  a  temper  was, 
she  could  have  learned  to  control  it,  at  least,  to  a 
degree. 

But  he  said  that  the  Maynards  could  not  allow 
Hester  to  come  to  Sand  Court  any  more,  unless 
with  the  thorough  understanding  and  agreement 
that  Ruth  was  to  be  a  member  of  the  Sand  Club, 
and  that  Marjorie  was  to  be  Queen  again.  He 
said  that  Hester  had  forfeited  all  right  to  be 
Queen,  and  that  as  Midget  practically  formed  the 
club,  the  right  to  be  Queen  was  hers. 


246  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Mrs.  Corey  agreed  to  all  this,  expressed  great 
chagrin  that  Hester  had  acted  so  rudely,  and 
promised  to  talk  to  the  child  and  try  to  induce 
a  better  spirit  of  kindness  and  good  comradeship. 

And  Cousin  Jack  went  away,  feeling  that  he 
had  served  the  little  Maynards  a  good  turn,  if  it 
had  been  a  difficult  and  unpleasant  duty  to  per- 
form. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

A    FINE    GAME 

ONE  Saturday  morning,  the  Maynards  and  the 
Bryants  sat  on  the  veranda  of  "  Maynard 
Manor,"  and  every  one  of  them  was  gazing  at  the 
sky. 

"  It  will, — I  know  it  will,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard, 
hopelessly. 

"  It  won't, — I  know  it  won't !  "  exclaimed  Mar- 
jorie,  smiling  at  her  mother. 

"  It's  bound  to,"  declared  Cousin  Jack,  "  and 
there's  no  use  thinking  it  won't ! " 

Of  course,  they  were  talking  about  the  rain, 
which  hadn't  yet  begun  to  fall,  but  which,  judging 
from  the  ominous  gray  sky  and  black  clouds, 
would  soon  do  so. 

"  Yep,  there  are  the  first  drops  now !  "  cried 
King,  as  some  black  spots  suddenly  appeared  on 
the  veranda  steps. 

"Yep!  that  settles  it!"  Marjorie  agreed, 
"  we'll  have  to  give  up  the  trip.  What  can  we 
do,  nice,  instead  ?  " 

They  had  planned  an  all-day  motor  trip.  Mr. 
Maynard  was  always  at  home  on  Saturdays,  and 
247 


24*8  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

he  liked  nothing  better  than  to  take  his  family  and 
friends  for  a  ride. 

"  The  nicest  thing  just  now  would  be  to  scoot 
indoors !  "  said  Cousin  Jack,  as  the  drops  came 
faster  and  thicker,  and  a  gust  of  wind  sent  the 
rain  dashing  at  them. 

So  they  all  scurried  into  the  house,  and  gath- 
ered in  the  big  living-room  to  discuss  the  situa- 
tion. 

"  It  does  seem  too  bad  to  have  it  rain  on  a 
Saturday,"  said  Cousin  Ethel,  looking  regretfully 
out  of  the  window. 

"  Rain,  rain,  go  away,  come  again  another  day," 
chanted  Midget,  drumming  on  the  pane  with  her 
finger  tips. 

"  Oh,  if  I  were  a  kiddy,  I  shouldn't  mind  it," 
said  Cousin  Jack,  teasingly,  to  Marjorie.  "  There 
are  lots  of  things  you  can  play.  But  us  poor 
grown-ups  have  no  fun  to  look  forward  to  but 
motoring,  and  now  we  can't  do  that." 

"  Oh,  if  I  were  a  grown-up,  /  shouldn't  mind 
it,"  said  Midget,  laughing  back  at  him.  "  Grown- 
ups can  do  anything  they  like,  but  kiddies  have 
to  do  as  they're  told." 

"  Ah,  yes,"  and  Cousin  Jack  sighed  deeply,  "  but 
we  have  sorrows  and  cares  that  you  know  nothing 
of." 

"Yes,"  returned  Marjorie,  "and  we  have  sor- 


A  FINE  GAME  249 

rows  and  cares  that  you  know  nothing  of!     I'd 
like  you  to  change  places  with  us  for  a  day,  and 

"  All  right,  we  will !  "  exclaimed  Cousin  Jack. 
"  That's  a  fine  game !  For  to-day,  we  grown-ups 
will  be  the  children  and  you  and  King  can  play 
mother  and  father  to  us ! " 

"  Oh,  what  larks !  "  cried  King.  "  Let's  begin 
right  away !  Will  you,  Mother?  " 

Mrs.  Maynard  laughed.  "  I'll  try  it,"  she  said, 
"  but  not  for  all  day.  Say  till  afternoon." 

"Well,  till  five  o'clock  this  afternoon," 
suggested  Marjorie;  "will  you,  Father,  will 
you  ?  " 

"  I'll  play  any  game  the  rest  play,"  said  good- 
natured  Mr.  Maynard.  "  What  do  you  want  me 
to  do?" 

"  Well,  you  must  obey  us  implicitly !  King  is 
Father,  and  I'm  Mother,  and  you  four  are  our 
children ;  Helen  and  Ed,  and  Ethel  and  Jack,  your 
names  are !  Oh,  what  fun !  King,  what  shall  we 
do  first?" 

"  Hear  their  lessons,  I  guess.  Now,  my  dears, 
I  know  it's  vacation,  but  you  really  ought  to  study 
a  little  each  day,  to  keep  your  minds  from  rusting 
out." 

This  was  a  favorite  speech  of  Mrs.  Maynard's, 
and  ae  King  quoted  it,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye, 


250  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

it  was  recognized  at  once,  at  least,  by  the  four 
Maynards. 

"All  right,"  cried  Marjorie,  dancing  about  in 
excitement,  "  sit  in  a  row,  children.  Why,  Ed, 
your  hands  are  a  sight !  Go  at  once,  and  wash 
them,  my  boy,  and  never  appear  before  me  again 
with  such  an  untidy  appearance !  " 

Mr.  Maynard  obediently  left  the  room,  and  when 
he  returned  a  few  moments  later,  his  hands  were 
immaculately  clean.  Also,  he  was  munching  a 
cooky,  apparently  with  great  delight. 

"  Give  me  one !  "  demanded  Cousin  Jack. 

"And  me!"  "And  me!"  begged  both  the 
ladies,  trying  to  act  like  eager  children.  Mr.  May- 
nard drew  more  cookies  from  his  pockets  and  gave 
them  to  the  others,  not,  however,  including  King 
and  Marjorie. 

"  Now,  children,  finish  your  cookies,  but  don't 
drop  crumbs  on  the  floor,"  said  Midget,  choking 
with  laughter  at  Cousin  Jack,  who  was  cramming 
large  bits  of  his  cake  into  his  mouth. 

"  Please,  Mother,  may  I  go  and  get  a  drink  of 
water  ?  "  he  mumbled. 

"  Yes,  Jack,  go.  And  then  don't  ever  take  such 
big  bites  of  cooky  again !  You  children  have  the 
worst  manners  I  ever  saw !  " 

And  then  each  one  had  to  have  a  drink  of  water, 
and  there  was  much  laughter  and  scrambling 


A  FINE  GAME  251 

before  they  were  again  in  order  for  their 
lessons. 

"  Geography,  first,"  said  King,  picking  up  & 
magazine  to  serve  as  a  pretended  text-book. 

"  Edward,  bound  Missouri." 

"  Missouri  is  bounded  on  the  north, — by, — bj> 
— Kansas,  I  guess." 

"  Pshaw !  he  doesn't  know  his  lesson !  let  me  say 
it ! "  exclaimed  Cousin  Jack.  "  Missouri  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Kentucky,  on  the  east  by- 
Alabama,  on  the  south  by  New  Jersey,  and  on  the 
west  by  Philadelphia.  It  is  a  great  cotton-grow- 
ing state,  and  contains  six  million  inhabitants, 
mostly  Hoosiers." 

"Fine!"  cried  Marjorie,  "every  word  correct! 
Next,  Ethel,  what  is  the  Capital  of  the  United 
States?" 

"  Seacote,"  said  Cousin  Ethel,  laughing. 

"  Sure  it  is  !  "  agreed  King ;  "  now  that's  enough? 
jography.  Next,  we'll  have  arithmetic.  Helen, 
how  much  is  eighteen  times  forty-seven?  " 

"I  don't  know,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard,  helplessly. 

"  Don't  know  your  multiplication  table !  Fie, 
fie,  my  dear!  You  must  stay  in  after  school  and 
study  it.  Edward,  how  much  is  eighteen  times, 
forty-seven?  " 

"  Six  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  Father." 

"  Right,  my  boy  !    Go  up  head." 


252  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Now,  I'll  give  an  example,"  said  Midget.  "  If 
Edward  has  three  eggs  and  Jack  has  two  eggs, 
how  many  have  they  together?  " 

"  Can't  do  it ! "  declared  Cousin  Jack,  "  'cause 
Ed  and  I  are  never  together  at  breakfast,  and 
that's  the  only  time  we  have  eggs ! " 

"  Then  here's  another !  "  cried  Midget ;  "  how 
can  you  divide  thirteen  apples  evenly  among  four 
people?  " 

"You  can't!"  said  Cousin  Jack,  "that's  the 
answer." 

"  No,  it  isn't !    Who  knows?  " 

"  Invite  in  nine  more  people,"  suggested  Mr. 
Maynard. 

"  No ;  that's  not  it !  Oh,  it's  easy !  Don't  you 
know,  Mother?  I  mean,  Helen?  " 

But  they  all  gave  it  up,  so  Marjorie  announced 
the  solution,  which  is,  "  Make  apple  sauce !  " 

"  History  lesson,  now,"  said  King.  "  Edward, 
who  discovered  America?  " 

"  Pocahontas,"  replied  Mr.  Maynard. 

"  Right.     Who  was  Pocahontas  ?  " 

"  A  noble  Indian  Princess,  who  was  born  July 
29th,  1563." 

"  Very  good.  Ethel,  describe  the  Battle  of 
Bunker  Hill." 

"I  can't;  I  wasn't  there," 

"  You  should  have  gone,"  reprimanded  King, 


A  FINE  GAME  253 

severely.  "  Didn't  you  read  the  newspaper  ac- 
counts of  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  I  didn't  believe  them." 

"  Jack  Bryant,  can  you  describe  this  famous 
battle?" 

"  Yes,  sir.  It  was  fought  under  the  shadow  of 
the  Bunker  Hill  Monument.  At  sundown  the 
shadow  ceased,  so  they  all  said, '  Disperse  ye  rebels, 
and  lay  down  your  arms ! '  So  they  laid  down 
their  arms  and  went  to  sleep." 

"  Very  well  done,  Master  Bryant.  Now,  we're 
going  to  speak  pieces.  Each  pupil  will  speak  a 
piece  or  write  a  composition.  You  may  take  your 
choice." 

"  I'll  speak  a  piece !  Let  me  speak  first !  "  ex- 
claimed Cousin  Ethel,  jumping  up  and  down. 
"  May  I  speak  now,  Teacher !  " 

"  Yes,  Ethel,  dear,"  said  Midget,  kindly ;  "  you 
may  speak  your  piece  first.  Stand  up  here,  by 
me.  Make  your  bow." 

So  Cousin  Ethel  came  up  to  Marjorie,  and  acted 
like  a  very  shy  and  bashful  child.  She  put  her 
finger  in  her  mouth,  and  dropped  her  eyes  and 
wriggled  about,  and  picked  at  her  skirt,  until 
everybody  was  in  peals  of  laughter. 

"  Be  quiet,  children,"  said  Midget,  trying  to 
control  her  own  face.  "  Now,  everybody  sit  still 
while  Ethel  Bryant  recites." 


$5*  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

Cousin  Ethel  made  a  very  elaborate  dancing- 
school  bow,  and  then,  swaying  back  and  forth  in 
school-child  fashion,  she  recited  in  a  monotonous 
ingsong,  these  lines: 

"MUD  PIES 

grown-ups  are  the  queerest  folks;  they  never  seem  to 

know 

Iliat  mud  pies  always  have  to  be  made  just  exactly  so. 
You  have  to  have  a  nice  back  yard,  a  sunny  pleasant  day, 
And  then  you  ask  some  boys  and  girls  to  come  around  and 

play. 

You  mix  some  mud  up  in  a  pail,  and  stir  it  with  a  stick; 
It  mustn't  be  a  bit  too  thin  —  and  not  a  bit  too  thick. 
And  then  you  make  it  into  pies,  and  pat  it  with  your  hand, 
And  bake  'em  on  a  nice  flat  board,  and  my  !  but  they  are 

grand!" 

Mrs.  Bryant  declaimed,  with  suitable  gestures, 
aumtl  finally  sat  down  on  the  floor  and  made  imag- 
inary mud  pies,  in  such  a  dear,  childish  way  that 
her  audience  was  delighted,  and  gave  her  really 
•earnest  encores. 

**Do  you  know  another  piece,  Ethel?"  asked 


**  Yes,  ma'am,"  and  Mrs.  Bryant  resumed  her 
sky  voice  and  manner. 

**Then  you  may  recite  it,  as  your  little  school- 
Mates  seem  anxious  to  have  you  do  so." 

So  again,  Mrs.  Bryant  diffidently  made  her 
r,  and  recited,  with  real  dramatic  effect: 


A  FINE  GAME  255 

"AN  UNVISITED  LOCALITY 

44 1  wisht  I  was  as  big  as  men, 
To  see  the  Town  of  After  Ten; 
I've  heard  it  is  so  bright  and  gay, 
It's  almost  like  another  day. 
But  to  my  bed  I'm  packed  off  straight 
When  that  old  clock  strikes  half-past  eight! 
It's  awful  hard  to  be  a  boy 
And  never  know  the  sort  of  joy 
That  grown-up  people  must  have  when 
They're  in  the  Town  of  After  Ten. 
I'm  sure  I  don't  know  what  they  do, 
For  shops  are  closed,  and  churches  too. 
Perhaps   with   burglars   they   go   'round, 
And  do  not  dare  to  make  a  sound! 
Well,  soon  I'll  be  a  man,  and  then 
I'll  see  the  Town  of  After  Ten! " 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Ethel,  you're  lovely ! "  cried  Mar- 
jorie,  forgetting  her  role  for  the  moment.  But 
King  took  it  up. 

"Yes,  little  Ethel,"  he  said,  "you  recite  Tory 
nicely,  for  such  a  young  child.  Now,  go  to  yotur 
seat,  and  Helen  Maynard  may  recite  next." 

"  Mine  is  a  Natural  History  Poem,"  said  Mrs* 
Maynard,  coming  up  to  the  teacher's  desk.  **R 
is  founded  on  fact,  and  it  is  highly  instructive.** 

"That's  nice,"  said  King.  "Go  ahead  with 
it." 

So  Mrs.  Maynard  made  her  bow  and  though  not 
bashful,  like  Mrs.  Bryant,  she  was  very  funny,  for 


256  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

she  pretended  to  forget  her  lines,  and  stammered 
and  hesitated,  and  finally  burst  into  pretended 
tears.  But,  urged  on  and  encouraged  by  the 
teachers,  she  finally  concluded  this  gem  of  poesy: 

"  THE  WHISTLING  WHALE 

"  A  whistling  whale  once  built  his  nest 
On  the  very  tiptop  of  a  mountain's  crest. 
He  wore  a  tunic  and  a  blue  cocked  hat, 
And  for  fear  of  mice  he  kept  a  cat. 
The  whistling  whale   had   a   good-sized   mouth, 
It  measured  three   feet   from  north  to  south; 
But  when  he  whistled  he  puckered  it  up 
Till  it  was  as  small  as  a  coffee-cup. 
The  people  came  from  far  and  near 
This  wonderful  whistling  whale  to  hear; 
And   in   a   most   obliging   way 
He  stood  on  his  tail  and  whistled  all  day." 

"  That's  a  truly  noble  poem,"  commented  King, 
as  she  finished.  "  Take  your  seat,  Helen ;  you 
have  done  splendidly,  my  little  girl ! " 

"  Now,  Teddy  Maynard,  it's  your  turn,"  said 
Marjorie. 

"  After  Jacky,"  declared  Mr.  Maynard,  and 
nothing  would  induce  him  to  precede  his  friend. 

"  Mine  is  about  a  visit  I  paid  to  the  Zoo,"  said 
Mr.  Bryant,  looking  modest.  "  I  wrote  it  myself 
for  a  composition,  but  it  turned  out  to  be  poetry. 
I  never  can  tell  how  my  compositions  are  going 
to  turn  out." 


A  FINE  GAME  257 

"Recite  it,"  said  Marjorie,  "and  we'll  see  if 
we  like  it." 

"  It's  about  wild  animals,"  went  on  Cousin  Jack, 
"  and  it  tells  of  their  habits." 

"  That's  very  nice,"  said  King,  condescend' 
ingly ;  "  go  ahead,  my  boy." 

So  Cousin  Jack  recited  this  poem: 

"THE  WAYS  OF  THE  WILD 

"  There's  nothing  quite  so  nice  to  do 
As  pay  a  visit  to  the  zoo, 
And  see  beasts  that,  at  different  times, 
Were  brought  from  strange  and  distant  climes. 
I  love  to  watch  the  tapirs  tape; 
I  stand  intent,  with  mouth  agape. 
Then   I   observe  the   vipers   vipe; 
They're  a  most   interesting   type. 
I  love  to  see  the  beavers  beave; 
Indeed,   you    scarcely    would    believe 
That  they  can  beave  so  cleverly, 
Almost  as  well  as  you  or  me. 
And  then  I  pass  along,  and  lo! 
Panthers   are  panthing  to  and   fro. 
And  in  the  next  cage  I  can  see 
The  badgers  badging  merrily. 
Oh,  the  dear  beasties  at  the  zoo, 
What  entertaining  things  they  do!" 

"  That's  fine !  "  exclaimed  Midget.  "  I  didn't 
know  we  were  going  to  have  a  real  entertain- 
ment ! " 

"  Very  good,  Jacky !  "  pronounced  King.     "  I 


258  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

sliall  mark  you  ten  in  declamation.  You're  a  good 
Reclaimer.  Now,  Teddy  Maynard,  it's  your  turn." 

"  Mine  is  real  oratory,"  declared  Mr.  Maynard, 
«s  he  rose  from  his  seat.  "  But  I  find  that  so  many 
fine  oratorical  pieces  fizzle  out  after  their  first 
lines,  that  I  just  pick  out  the  best  lines  and  use 
them  for  declamation.  Now,  you  can  see  how  well 
mj  plan  works." 

He  struck  an  attitude,  bowed  to  each  of  his 
audience  separately,  cleared  his  throat  impres- 
sively, and  then  began  to  declaim  in  a  stilted, 
stagey  voice,  and  with  absurd  dramatic  gestures : 

"  THE  ART  OF  ELOCUTION 

"The  noble  songs  of  noble  deeds  of  bravery  or  glory 
Are    much    enhanced    if    they're    declaimed    with    stirring 

oratory. 

I  love  sonorous  words  that  roll  like  billows  o'er  the  seas; 
These  I  recite  like  Cicero  or  like  Demosthenes. 

**  And  so,  from  every  poem  what  is  worthy  I  select ; 
J  use  the  phrases  I  like  best,  the  others  I  reject; 
And  thus,  I  claim,  that  I  have  found  the  logical  solution 
Of  difficulties  that  attend  the  art  of  elocution. 

**  Whence  come  these  shrieks  so  wild  and  shrill?    Across  the 

sands  o'  Dee? 
La,  I  will  stand  at  thy  right  hand  and  keep  the  bridge  with 

thee! 

'For  this  was  Tell  a  hero?     For  this  did  Gessler  die? 
*  The  curse  is  come  upon  me ! '  said  the  Spider  to  the  Fly. 


A  FINE  GAME  259 

"When  Britain  first  at  Heaven's  command  said,  *  Boatswain, 

do  not  tarry; 
The  despot's  heel  is  on  thy  shore,  and  while  ye  may,  go 

marry.' 

Let  dogs  delight  to  bark  and  bite  the  British  Grenadiers, 
Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  lay  dying  in  Algiers! 

"Old   Grimes   is  dead!    Ring  out,  wild   bells!    And   shall 

Trelawney  die? 

Then  twenty  thousand  Cornishmen  are  comin'  thro'  the  rye! 
The  Blessed  Damozel  leaned  out, — she  was  eight  years  old 

she  said! 
Lord  Lovel  stood  at  his  castle  gate,  whence  all  but  him 

had  fled. 

**  Rise  up,  rise  up,  Xarifa !    Only  three  grains  of  corn ! 
Stay,  Lady,  stay!  for  mercy's  sake!  and  wind  the  bugle 

horn. 
The   glittering  knife   descends — descends — Hark,  hark,  the 

foeman's  cry! 
The  world  is  all  a  fleeting  show !    Said  Gilpin,  '  So  am  I ! ' 

"The  sea!  the  sea!  the  open  sea!     Roll  on,  roll  on,  thou 

deep! 
Maxwelton  braes  are   bonny,  but  Macbeth  hath  murdered 

sleep ! 

Answer  me,  burning  shades  of  night!  what's  Hecuba  to  me? 
Alone  stood  brave  Horatius!    The  boy — oh,  where  was  he?" 

"  Oh,  Father !  "  cried  Mar j one,  as  Mr.  Maynard 
finished,  "  did  you  really  make  that  up  ?  Or  did 
you  find  it  in  a  book?  " 

But  Mr.  Maynard  wouldn't  tell,  and  only  ac- 
cepted the  praise  heaped  upon  him,  with  a  foolish 
smirk,  like  an  embarrassed  schoolboy. 


260  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Now,  children,  school  is  out,"  said  Midget, 
"  and  it's  about  luncheon  time.  So  go  and  tidy 
yourselves  up  to  come  to  the  table.  You're  always 
sending  us  to  tidy  up,  Mother,  so  now  you  can 
see  what  a  nuisance  it  is !  Rim  along,  and  come 
back  as  quickly  as  you  can,  for  luncheon  is  nearly 
ready." 

The  four  grown-ups  went  away  to  tidy  up,  and 
King  and  Midget  made  further  plans  for  this  new 
game.  It  was  still  raining,  so  there  was  no  hope 
of  going  motoring,  and  they  concluded  they  were 
having  enough  fun  at  home  to  make  up 
for  it. 

But  when  the  four  "  children  "  returned,  they 
looked  at  them  a  moment  in  silent  astonishment, 
and  then  burst  into  shrieks  of  laughter. 

Mr.  Maynard  and  Mr.  Bryant  had  transformed 
themselves  into  boys,  by  brushing  their  hair  down 
very  wet  and  straight,  and  wearing  large,  round 
collars  made  of  white  paper,  and  tied  with  enor- 
mous bows.  They  looked  funny  enough,  but  the 
two  ladies  were  funnier  still.  Mrs.  Maynard  had 
her  hair  in  two  long  pigtails  tied  with  huge  rib- 
bons, and  Cousin  Ethel  had  her  hair  in  bunches  of 
curls,  also  tied  with  big  bows.  They  both  wore 
white  bib  aprons,  and  carried  foolish-looking  dolls 
which  they  had  made  out  of  pillows,  tied  round 
with  string. 


A  FINE  GAME  261 

"  You  dear  children !  "  cried  Midget ;  "  I  think 
you  are  lovely !  Come  along  to  luncheon." 

The  "  children  "  politely  let  King  and  Midget 
go  first,  and  they  followed,  giggling.  Sarah,  the 
waitress,  was  overcome  with  amusement,  but  she 
managed  to  keep  a  straight  face,  as  the  comical- 
looking  procession  filed  in. 

King  and  Marjorie  appropriated  their  parents' 
seats,  and  the  others  sat  at  the  sides  of  the  table. 

"  No,  Helen,  dear,"  said  Midget,  "  you  can't 
have  any  tea.  It  isn't  good  for  little  girls.  You 
may  have  a  glass  of  milk,  if  you  wish." 

"  I  don't  think  these  lobster  croquettes  are 
good  for  Jack,"  said  King,  looking  wisely  at 
Midget;  "they're  very  rich,  and  he's  subject  to 
indigestion." 

"  I  am  not ! "  declared  Cousin  Jack,  looking 
longingly  at  the  tempting  croquettes,  for  which 
Ellen  was  famous. 

"  There,  there,  my  child,"  said  Marjorie;  "  don't 
contradict  your  father.  Perhaps  he  could  have 
a  half  of  one,  King." 

"  Yes,  that  would  scarcely  make  him  ill,"  and 
King  gave  Cousin  Jack  a  portion  of  one  small 
croquette,  which  he  ate  up  at  once,  and  found  to 
be  merely  an  aggravation. 

"  Oh,  no !  no  pie  for  Edward,"  said  Marjorie, 
when  a  delicious  lemon  meringue  made  its  appear- 


262  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

ance.  "  Pie  is  entirely  unsuitable  for  children  t 
He  may  have  a  nice  baited  apple." 

And  Mr.  Maynard  was  plucky  enough  to  eat 
his  baked  apple  without  a  murmur,  for  he  remem- 
bered that  often  he  had  advised  Mrs.  Maynard 
against  giving  the  children  pie. 

To  be  sure,  the  pie  would  not  harm  the  grown 
people,  but  Mr.  Maynard  had  agreed  to  "  play 
the  game,"  and  it  was  his  nature  to  do  thoroughly 
whatever  he  undertook. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

MOEE    FUN 

"Now,  Helen,"  said  Marjorie,  as  they  left  the 
dining-room,  "  you  must  practise  for  an  hour." 

"  Oh,  Mother,  I  don't  feel  a  bit  like  it!  Mayn't 
I  skip  it  to-day?" 

This  was,  in  effect,  a  speech  that  Marjorie  often 
made,  and  she  had  to  laugh  at  her  mother's 
mimicry. 

But  she  straightened  her  face,  and  said,  "  No, 
my  child;  you  must  do  your  practising,  or  you 
won't  be  ready  for  your  lesson  when  the  teacher 
comes  to-morrow." 

"All  right,  Mother,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard, 
cheerfully,  and  sitting  down  at  the  piano,  she 
began  to  rattle  off  a  gay  waltz. 

"  Oh,  no,  Helen,"  remonstrated  Marjorie,  "  that 
won't  do !  You  must  play  your  scales  and  exer- 
cises. See,  here's  the  book.  Now,  play  that  page 
over  and  over  for  an  hour." 

Marjorie  did  hate  those  tedious  "  exercises," 
and  she  was  glad  for  her  mother  to  see  how  poky 
it  was  to  drum  at  them  for  an  hour.  As  a  rule, 
Marjorie  did  her  practising  patiently  enough,  but 

263 


264  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

sometimes  she  revolted,  and  it  made  her  chuckle 
to  see  Mrs.  Maynard  carefully  picking  out  the 
"  five-finger  drills." 

"  Keep  your  hands  straight,  Helen,"  she  ad- 
monished her  mother.  "  Keep  the  backs  of  them 
so  level  that  a  lead  pencil  wouldn't  roll  off.  I'll 
get  a  lead  pencil." 

"  No,  don't ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Maynard,  in  dis- 
may. She  liked  to  play  the  piano,  but  she  was 
far  from  careful  to  hold  her  hands  in  the  position 
required  by  Midget's  teacher. 

"  Yes,  I  think  I'd  better,  Helen.  If  you  con- 
tract bad  habits,  it's  so  difficult  to  break  them." 

Roguish  Marjorie  brought  a  lead  pencil,  and 
laid  it  carefully  across  the  back  of  her  mother's 
hand,  from  which  it  immediately  rolled  off. 

"  Now,  Helen,  you  must  hold  your  hand  level. 
Try  again,  dearie,  and  if  it  rolls  off,  pick  it  up 
and  put  it  back  in  place." 

Mrs.  Maynard  made  a  wry  face,  and  the  other 
grown-ups  laughed,  to  see  the  difficulty  she  ex- 
perienced with  the  pencil. 

"  One — two — three — four,"  she  counted,  aloud. 

"  Count  to  yourself,  Helen,"  said  Marjorie. 
"  It's  annoying  to  hear  you  do  that !  " 

This,  too,  was  quoted,  for  Mrs.  Maynard  had 
often  objected  to  the  monotonous  drone  of  Mar- 
jorie's  counting  aloud. 


MORE  FUN  265 

But  the  mother  began  to  see  that  a  child's  life 
has  its  own  little  troubles,  and  she  smiled  appreci- 
atively at  Midget,  as  she  picked  up  the  pencil 
from  the  floor  for  the  twentieth  time,  and  replaced 
it  on  the  back  of  her  hand,  now  stiff  and  lame  from 
the  unwonted  restraint. 

"  You  dear  old  darling ! "  cried  Midget,  flying 
over  and  kissing  the  patient  musician ;  "  you 
sha'n't  do  that  any  longer!  I  declare,  King,  it's 
clearing  off,  after  all!  Let's  take  the  children 
out  for  a  walk." 

"  Very  well,  we  will.  Oh,  here  comes  Ruth ! 
Come  in,  Ruth." 

Ruth  Rowland  came  in,  and  looked  greatly  mys- 
tified at  the  appearance  of  the  elder  members  of 
the  group  before  her. 

But  King  and  Midget  explained  what  was  going 
on,  and  said: 

"  And  you  can  be  Aunt  Ruth,  come  to  call  on 
us  and  our  children." 

Ruth's  eyes  danced  with  fun,  and  she  sat  down, 
saying  to  Marjorie,  "  I'm  glad  to  see  the  children 
looking  so  well;  have  any  of  them  the  whooping- 
cough?  I  hear  it's  around  some." 

"  I  have,"  declared  Cousin  Jack,  and  then  he 
began  to  cough  and  whoop  in  a  most  exaggerated 
imitation  of  the  whooping-cough.  Indeed,  in  his 
paroxysms,  he  almost  turned  somersaults. 


266 

"  I  hab  a  bad  cold  id  by  head,"  declared  Mr. 
Maynard,  and  he  began  a  series  of  such  prodigious 
sneezes  that  all  the  others  screamed  with  laughter. 

"  Well,  your  children  aren't  so  very  well,  after 
all,  are  they?  "  commented  Ruth,  as  they  watched 
the  two  men  cutting  up  their  capers. 

"  The  girls  are,"  said  Marjorie,  looking  affec- 
tionately at  her  two  "  daughters." 

"Oh,  I'm  not!"  declared  Mrs.  Maynard;  "I 
have  a  fearful  toothache,"  and  she  held  her  cheek 
in  her  hand,  and  rocked  back  and  forth,  pretend- 
ing dreadful  pain. 

"  And  I  have  the  mumps ! "  announced  Cousin 
Ethel,  puffing  out  her  pretty  pink  cheeks,  to  make 
believe  they  were  swollen  with  that  ailment. 

"  Well,  you're  a  crowd  of  invalids !  "  said  King; 
"  I  believe  some  fresh  air  would  do  you  good.  Out 
you  all  go,  for  a  walk.  Get  your  hats,  kiddies,  and 
be  quick  about  it." 

The  grown-ups  scampered  away  to  get  their 
hats,  and  the  ladies  put  up  their  hair  properly  and 
took  off  their  white  aprons. 

The  two  men  discarded  their  big  collars  and  ties, 
but  the  game  was  not  yet  over,  and  the  group 
went  gayly  out  and  down  toward  the  beach. 

"  May  we  go  in  bathing,  Mother?  "  asked  Mr. 
Maynard. 

"  Not  in  bathing,  my  son,"  returned  Marjorie; 


MORE  FUN  26T 

"  the  waves  are  too  strong.  But,  if  you  wish,  you 
may  all  take  off  your  shoes  and  stockings  and  go 
<  paddling.'  " 

However,  none  of  the  quartette  of  "  children  " 
accepted  this  permission,  so  they  all  sat  on  the 
sand  and  built  forts. 

"  Now,  I  guess  we'll  all  go  to  the  pier,  and  get 
ice  cream,"  said  King.  "  How  would  you  like  that, 
kiddies?  " 

"  Fine ! "  said  Cousin  Jack.  "  It's  getting 
warmer,  and  I'm  hungering  for  ice  cream.  Come 
on,  all." 

"  Gently,  my  boy,  gently,"  said  King,  as  Cousin 
Jack  scrambled  to  his  feet,  upsetting  sand  all  over 
everybody.  "  Now,  walk  along  nicely  and  prop- 
erly, don't  go  too  fast,  and  we'll  reach  the  pier 
in  good  time." 

"  Turn  out  your  toes,"  directed  Marjorie;  "  hold 
up  your  head,  Ethel.  Don't  swing  your  arms, 
Edward." 

As  a  matter  of  fact  the  four  grown  people 
found  it  a  little  difficult  to  follow  these  bits  of 
good  advice  they  had  so  often  given  carelessly  to 
the  children,  and  they  marched  along  rather  stifflj. 

"  Try  to  be  a  little  more  graceful,  Helen,"  said 
King,  and  they  all  laughed,  for  Mrs.  Maynard 
was  really  a  very  graceful  lady,  and  was  spoiling 
her  gait  by  over-attention  to  Midget's  rules.  At 


268  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

the  pier,  King  selected  a  pleasant  table,  and  ranged 
his  party  around  it. 

"  Bring  three  plates  of  ice  cream,  and  four  half- 
portions,"  he  directed  the  waiter.  And  when  it 
was  brought,  he  calmly  gave  the  four  small  pieces 
to  his  parents  and  the  Bryants. 

Cousin  Jack's  face  fell,  for  he  was  warm  and 
tired,  and  he  wanted  more  than  a  spoonful  of  the 
refreshing  delicacy.  But  a  surreptitious  glance  at 
his  watch  showed  him  it  was  almost  five  o'clock; 
so  he  accepted  his  plate  without  a  murmur. 

"  It's  very  nice,  Mother,"  he  said  demurely,  eat- 
ing it  by  tiny  bits,  scraped  from  the  edges  as  he 
had  sometimes  seen  Marjorie  do,  when  her  share 
had  been  limited  to  half  a  plate. 

"  I'm  glad  you  like  it,  son,"  she  returned ; 
"  don't  eat  too  fast, — hold  your  spoon  properly, 
— take  small  bites  of  cake." 

Ruth  was  convulsed  by  this  new  sort  of  fun,  and 
asked  Marjorie  if  they  had  ever  played  the  game 
before. 

"  No,"  Cousin  Jack  answered  for  her,  "  and  I'm 
jolly  well  sure  we  never  will  again!  I've  had 
enough  of  being  '  a  child  again,  just  for  to-night ! ' 
And,  if  you  please,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  it's  now 
five  o'clock!  the  jig  is  up!  the  game  is  played 
out!  the  ball  is  over!  Here,  waiter;  bring  some 
ice  cream,  please.  Full-sized  plates,  all  around !  " 


MORE  FUN  269 

The  amused  waiter  hurried  away  on  his  errand, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maynard  sat  up  suddenly,  as 
if  relieved  of  a  great  responsibility. 

"  Bring  some  cake,  too,"  said  Mrs.  Maynard, 
"  and  a  pot  of  tea.  Don't  you  want  some  tea, 
Ethel?" 

"  Indeed,  I  do,  Helen ;  I'm  exhausted.  Jack, 
if  you  ever  propose  such  a  game  again ! " 

"  I  didn't  propose  it,  my  dear !  Now,  will  you 
look  at  that !  Everything  always  gets  blamed  on 
me!" 

And  now  there  was  plenty  of  ice  cream  for 
everybody,  and  the  children  were  allowed  to  have 
all  they  wanted,  and  they  were  all  glad  to  get  back 
to  their  rightful  places  again. 

"  But  it  was  fun !  "  said  Marjorie,  and  then  she 
told  Ruth  all  about  the  funny  things  they  had 
done  before  she  arrived  on  the  scene. 

Then  they  all  walked  around  by  Ruth's  house 
to  take  her  home,  and  then  they  walked  around  by 
Bryant  Bower  to  take  the  Bryants  home,  and  then 
the  Maynards  went  home  themselves. 

"  I'm  going  to  write  Kit  all  about  it,"  said 
Marjorie;  "she'd  have  loved  that  game,  if  she'd 
been  here." 

"  She  loves  any  make-believe  game,"  said  King. 
"  You  write  to  her,  Midget ;  I've  got  to  write  up 
The  Jolly  Sandboy  paper." 


270  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  I  should  think  you  had !  You  haven't  done 
one  for  two  weeks." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  it's  because  nobody  sends  in  any 
contributions.  I  can't  make  it  all  up  alone." 

"  'Course  you  can't.  When  I  write  to  Kitty, 
I'll  ask  her  if  she  hasn't  some  things  we  could  put 
in  it.  She  and  Uncle  Steve  are  always  making  up 
poetry  and  stories." 

"  Good  idea,  Mops !  Tell  her  to  be  sure  to  send 
me  a  lot  of  stuff,  first  thing  she  does ! " 

"Well,  I  will;"  and  Marjorie  set  to  work  at 
her  letter. 

It  was  finished  by  dinner  time,  for  Marjorie's 
letters  to  her  sister  were  not  marked  by  any  undue 
precision  of  style  or  penmanship,  and  as  Marjorie 
laid  it  on  the  hall  table  to  be  mailed,  she  told  King 
that  she  had  given  Kitty  his  message. 

"  Father."  said  Midget,  at  dinner,  that  night, 
"  what  day  did  Cousin  Jack  say  was  Pocahontas' 
birthday?" 

"  I  don't  remember,  my  dear :  but  I'm  quite  sure 
he  doesn't  really  know,  nor  any  one  else.  I  fancy 
he  made  up  that  date." 

"  Well,  do  you  know  of  anybody,  anybody  nice 
and  celebrated,  whose  birthday  comes  about  now?  " 

"The  latter  part  of  July?  No,  Midget,  I 
don't.  Why?" 

"  Oh,  'cause  I  think  it  would  be  nice  to  have 


MORE  FUN  271 

a  celebration,  and  you  can't  celebrate  without  a 
hero." 

"  Do  you  call  Pocahontas  a  hero  ?  "  asked  King, 
quizzically. 

"  Well,  she's  a  heroine, — it's  all  the  same. 
When  do  you  s'pose  her  birthday  was,  Father?" 

"  I've  no  idea,  Midget ;  and  Cousin  Jack  hasn't, 
either.  But  if  you  want  to  celebrate  her,  you  can 
choose  any  day.  You  see,  it  isn't  like  a  birthday 
that's  celebrated  every  year,  Washington's,  Lin- 
coln's, or  yours.  If  you're  just  going  to  celebrate 
once,  you  can  take  one  day  as  well  as  another." 

"  Oh,  can  I,  Father?  Then,  we'll  have  it  next 
week.  I'll  choose  August  first, — that's  a  nice 
day." 

"What's  it  all  about,  Midge?"  asked  King. 

"  Oh,  nothing ;  only  I  took  a  notion  for  a  cele- 
bration. We  had  such  good  times  on  Fourth  of 
July  and  on  my  birthday,  I  want  another  birth- 
day." 

"  I  think  it's  a  good  idea  to  choose  some  un- 
celebrated person  like  Pocahontas,"  said  Mrs.  May- 
nard ;  "  for  if  you  don't  celebrate  her  I  doubt  if 
anybody  ever  will." 

"  And  you  see  we  can  have  it  all  sort  of  In- 
dian," went  on  Midget.  "  You  know  we've  a  good 
many  Indian  baskets  and  beads  and  things, — and, 
Father,  couldn't  you  build  us  a  wigwam  ?  " 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Oh,  yes,  a  whole  reservation,  if  you  like." 

"  No,  just  one  wigwam.  And  we'll  only  have 
the  Sand  Club.  I  don't  mean  to  have  a  party." 

"  All  right,  I'm  in  for  it,"  declared  King,  and 
right  after  dinner,  the  two  set  to  work  making 
plans  for  the  celebration. 

"  Cousin  Jack  will  help,  I  know,"  said  Marjorie ; 
"  remember  how  he  played  Indians  with  us,  up  in 
Cambridge,  last  year?  " 

"  Yep,  'course  I  do.  He'll  be  fine !  He  always 
is." 

"  Let's  telephone,  and  ask  him  right  awa}r." 

"  All  right ; "  and  in  a  few  moments  Cousin 
Jack's  cheery  "  Hello !  "  came  over  the  wire. 

"  Well !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  if  it  isn't  those  May- 
nard  scamps  again !  Now,  see  here,  Mehitabel,  it's 
time  you  and  Hezekiah  went  to  bed.  It's  nearly 
nine  o'clock." 

"  But,  Cousin  Jack,  I  just  want  to  ask  you 
something." 

"  Not  to-night,  my  Angel  Child.  Whatever 
you  ask  me  to-night,  I  shall  say  no  to !  Besides, 
I'm  reading  my  paper,  and  I  can't  be  disturbed." 

"  But,  Cousin  Jack " 

"  The  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  has  to- 
day handed  down  a  decision  in  favor  of " 

"  Oh,  King,  he's  reading  out  of  his  newspaper, 
just  to  tease  us  !  You  try  him." 


MORE  FUN  273 

King  took  the  telephone.  "  Please,  Cousin  Jaclc, 
listen  a  minute,"  he  said. 

But  all  the  reply  he  heard  was: 

"  Ephraim  Hardenburg  has  been  elected  chair- 
man of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Great  Coal 
Tar  Company,  to  succeed  James  H. " 

King  hung  up  the  receiver  in  disgust. 

"No  use,"  he  said;  "Cousin  Jack  just  read 
more  of  that  newspaper  stuff!  Never  mind,  Mid- 
get, we  can  wait  till  we  see  him.  I  guess  I  will 
scoot  to  bed,  now ;  I'm  awful  sleepy." 

But  when  Cousin  Jack  heard  of  their  project, 
a  day  or  two  later,  he  was  more  than  willing  to 
help  with  the  celebration. 

"Well,  I  just  guess!"  he  cried.  "We'll  have 
a  jamboree  that'll  make  all  the  good  Indians  wish 
they  were  alive  now,  instead  of  four  hundred  thou- 
sand years  ago !  We'll  have  a  wigwam  and  a 
wampum  and  a  tomahawk  and  all  the  ancient  im- 
provements !  Hooray  for  Pocahontas  !  " 

"  Gracious,  Jack !  you're  the  biggest  child  of 
the  lot !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Maynard,  who  sat  on 
the  veranda,  watching  the  enthusiasm  going 
on. 

"  Of  course,  I  am,  ma'am !  I'm  having  a  merry 
playtime  this  summer  with  my  little  friends,  and 
as  I  have  to  work  hard  all  winter,  I  really  need 
this  vacation." 


274  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Of  course  you  do !  But  don't  let  those  two 
energetic  children  wear  you  out." 

"  No,  ma'am !  More  likely  I'll  wear  them  out. 
Now,  for  the  wigwam,  kiddies.  Have  you  a 
couple  of  Navajo  blankets?" 

*'  Yes,  we  have !  and  a  Bulgarian  one,  or  what- 
ever you  call  it,  to  piece  out,"  cried  Midget,  as 
she  ran  to  get  them. 

"  Just  the  thing !  "  declared  Cousin  Jack.  "  Put 
them  aside,  we  won't  use  them  till  the  day  of  the 
show.  'Cause  why?  'Cause  it  might  rain. — but, 
of  course  it  won't.  Now,  for  feathers. — we  want 
lots  of  feathers." 

"  Old  hat  feathers  ?  "  asked  Midget. 

"  Ostrich  plumes  ?  Nay,  nay,  me  child.  Good 
stiff  quill  feathers, — turkey  feathers  preferred. 
Well,  never  mind  those, — I'll  fish  some  up  from 
somewhere.  Now,  blankets  for  the  braves  and 
fringed  gowns  for  the  squaws.  I'll  show  you  how, 
Mehitabel,  and  you  and  your  respected  mother 
can  do  the  sewing  act." 

Well,  Cousin  Jack  planned  just  about  every- 
thing, and  he  and  the  children  turned  the  house 
upside  down  in  their  quest  for  materials.  But 
Mrs.  Maynard  didn't  mind.  She  was  used  to  it, 
for  the  Maynard  children  would  always  rather 
4<  celebrate  "  than  play  any  ordinary  game. 


CHAPTER  XX 

A    CELEBRATION 

THE  first  of  August  was  a  perfect  day  for  their 
celebration. 

They  had  concluded  to  hold  a  Sand  Court  ses- 
sion first,  for  the  simple  reason  that  so  much 
matter  for  The  Jolly  Sandboy  had  arrived  from 
Kitty  that  King  said  his  paper  was  full,  and 
he  thought  it  would  be  nice  to  help  along  the 
celebration. 

Cousin  Jack  declined  an  invitation  to  be  present 
at  the  reading,  saying  that  the  Pocahontas  part 
was  all  he  could  stand,  so  the  Court  convened 
without  him.  Ruth  was  Queen  for  the  day.  This 
was  for  no  particular  reason,  except  that  Marjorie 
thought  it  would  be  a  pleasure  to  the  little  new 
member,  so  she  insisted  on  Ruth's  wearing  the 
crown. 

Very  dainty  and  sweet  the  little  Queen  looked, 
with  her  long  flaxen  curls  hanging  down  from  the 
extra  gorgeous  gilt-paper  crown,  that  Marjorie 
had  made  specially  for  this  occasion. 

As  the  session  began,  a  meek  little  figure  ap 
275 


276  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

peared  at  the  Court  entrance,  and  there  was 
Hester ! 

"  Now,  you  Hester ! "  began  Tom  Craig,  but 
Hester  said : 

"  Oh,  please  let  me  come !  I  "will  be  good.  I 
won't  say  a  single  cross  word,  or  boss,  or  any- 
thing." 

"All  right,  Hester,"  said  Midget,  kindly, 
"  come  on  in.  If  the  Queen  says  you  may  we'll 
all  say  so.  Do  you,  O  Queen  ?  " 

Ruth  looked  doubtful  for  a  minute,  for  she  was 
a  little  afraid  of  Hester's  uncertain  temper;  but, 
seeing  Marjorie's  pleading  look,  she  consented. 

"  All  right,"  she  said ;  "  if  Hester  won't  throw 
water  on  me." 

"  No,  I  won't !  "  declared  Hester,  earnestly. 

"  Well,"  said  King,  "  just  as  long  as  Hester  be- 
haves herself  she  may  stay.  If  she  carries  on  like 
fury,  she's  got  to  go  home." 

Hester  sat  down  and  folded  her  hands  in  her 
lap,  looking  so  excessively  meek  that  they  all  had 
to  laugh  at  her. 

"  Now,"  said  the  Queen,  "  we're  gathered  here 
together,  my  loyal  subjects,  to  listen  to, — to,  what 
do  you  call  it?  " 

"  The  Jolly  Sandboy,"  prompted  King. 

"  The  Jolly  Sandbag,"  said  the  Queen,  mis- 
understanding. 


A  CELEBRATION  277 

But  she  was  soon  put  right,  and  King  pro- 
ceeded to  read  his  paper. 

"  It's  'most  aU  done  by  Uncle  Steve  and  Kitty," 
he  said,  "  and  it's  so  nice,  I  thought  you'd  all  like 
to  hear  it." 

"  We  would,"  they  said,  and  so  King  began. 

"  Uncle  Steve's  part  is  all  about  animals,"  he 
said.  "  It's  a  sort  of  Natural  History,  I  guess. 
First  is  a  poem  about  the  Camel. 

"  The  camel  is  a  curious  beast ; 
He  roams  about  all  through  the  East. 
He  swiftly  scours  the  desert  plain, 
And  then  he  scours  it  back  again. 

"  The  camel's  legs  are  very  slim, 
And  he  lets  people  ride  on  him. 
Across  the  sandy  waste  he  flies, 
And  kicks  the  waste  in  people's  eyes. 

"  He  kneels  for  people  to  get  on, 
Then  pulls  his  legs  up,  one  by  one; 
But  here's  what  troubles  them  the  worst — 
To  know  which  leg  he'll  pull  up  first. 

"  Sometimes,  when  he  is  feeling  gay, 
The  camel  likes  to  run  away; 
And,  as  he's  just  indulged  that  whim, 
I  can't  write  any  more  of  him." 

"  I  think  that's  lovely,"  said  the  Queen,  enthusi- 
astically. "  Your  uncle  is  a  real  poet,  isn't  he?  " 


278  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

» 

"  Our  family  all  can  write  poetry,"  said  Mar- 
jorie,  seriously.  "  Father  and  Mother  both  write 
beautiful  verses." 

"  Now,  here's  the  next  one,"  went  on  King. 
"  This  is  about  all  sorts  of  different  animals, — 
and  it's  funny,  too: 

"The  whale  is  smooth,  and  black  as  jet 

His  disposition  sweet; 
He  neatly  combs  his  hair,  and  yet 
He  will  not  wipe  his  feet. 

**  The    wombat's   clever  and  polite, 

And  kind  as  he  can  be; 
And  yet  he  doesn't  bow  quite  right 
When  he  goes  out  to  tea. 

"The  snake  is  bright  and  understands 

Whatever  he  is  taught; 
And  yet  he  never  will  shake  hands 
As  cordial  people  ought. 

"  'Most  everybody  loves  the  newt ; 

But  I've  heard  people  tell, 
That  though  he's  handy  with  a  flute 
He  can't  sew  very  well. 

"  So  animals,  as  you  may  see, 
Some  grave  defects  display; 
They're  not  like  human  beings.     We 
Are  perfect  every  way." 

"  Oh,  that's  a  fine  one !  "  cried  Hester.  "  Mayn't 
I  copy  that,  and  have  it  to  keep?  " 


A  CELEBRATION  279 

"  Of  course,"  said  King.  "  I'll  make  you  a  copy 
on  the  typewriter.  Now,  here's  a  silly  one.  I 
mean  nonsensical,  you  know.  But  I  like  it : 

"THE  FUNNY  FLAPDOODLE 

"  There   was   a    Flapdoodle    of   France, 
Who  loved  to  cut  capers  and  dance; 

He  had  one  red  shoe 

And  the  other  was  blue, 
And  how  he  could  shuffle  and  prance! 

*'  One  day  he  was  kicking  so  high 
That  a  breeze  blew  him  up  in  the  sky; 

The  breeze  was  so  strong 

It  blew  him  along 
Till  the  Flapdoodle  just  seemed  to  fly. 

"  He  flew  'way  up  into  the  stars, 
And,  somehow,  he  landed  on  Mars. 

Said  the  Flapdoodle:  'I 

Do  not  like  to  fly; 
I  think  I'll  go  back  on  the  cars.' 

"  So  a  railroad  was  rapidly  built, 
And  they  wrapped  him  all  up  in  a  quilt; 

For  the  Flapdoodle  said: 

'If  I  stick  out  my  head 
I  fear  that  I'll  somehow  get  kilt!' 

"  The  railroad  train  whizzed  very  fast, 
But  they  landed  him  safely  at  last; 

And  through  future  years 

He   related,  with  tears, 
The  dangers  Uii'ough  which  he  had  passed." 


280  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  Oh,  that's  the  best  of  all !  "  said  Midget ;  "  I 
love  that  kind  of  funny  verses.  Isn't  Uncle  Steve 
clever  to  write  like  that!  Any  more,  King?  " 

"  Yes,  one  more.  It  isn't  about  animals,  but  it's 
a  sort  of  a  nonsense  poem,  too.  It's  called  i  A 
Queer  Hospital.' 

"  There's  a  hospital  down  on  Absurdity  Square, 
Where  the  queerest  of  patients  are  tended  with   care. 

"  When  I  made  them  a  visit  I  saw  in  a  crib 
A  little  Umbrella  who  had  broken  his  rib. 

"  And  then  I  observed  in  the  very  next  bed 
A  bright  little  Pin  who  had  bumped  his  poor  head. 

"  They  said  a  new  cure  they'd  decided  to  try 
On  an  old  Needle,  totally  blind  in  one  eye. 

"  I  was  much  interested,  and  soon  I  espied 
A  Shoe  who  complained  of  a  stitch  in  her  side. 

"  And  a  sad-looking  patient  who  seemed  in  the  dumps 
Was  a  Clock,  with  a  swell  face  because  of  the  mumps. 

"  Then  I  tried  very  hard,  though  I  fear  'twas  in  vain 
To  comfort  a  Window  who  had  a  bad  pane. 

"And  I  paused  just  a  moment  to  cheerily  speak 
With  a  pale  Cup  of  Tea  who  was  awfully  weak. 

"As  I  took  my  departure  I  met  on  the  stair 
A   new  patient,  whom  they  were  handling  with  care, 
A  victim  perhaps  of  some  terrible  wreck — 
'Twas  a  Squash  who  had  fatally  broken  his  neck." 


A  CELEBRATION  281 

"  This  is  the  nicest  Jolly  Sandboy  paper  we've 
had  yet,"  said  Tom,  as  King  finished. 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  agreed  Marjorie.  "  But  I  thought 
Kit  wrote  some  of  it,  King." 

"  She  did.  I'll  read  hers  now.  It's  an  alphabet, 
all  about  us  down  here.  Kitty  wrote  it,  but  she 
says  Uncle  Steve  helped  her  a  little  bit  with  some 
of  the  lines.  It's  called  '  The  Seacote  Alphabet.' 

"A  is  the  Automobile  we  all  love. 
B  is  the  Boat  in  the  water  we  shove. 
C  is  the  Coast  that  stretches  along. 
D  is  for  Dick,  our  Sandow  so  strong. 
E's  cousin  Ethel,  so  sweet  and  refined. 

F,  Father  Maynard,  indulgent  and  kind. 

G,  Grandma  Sherwood,  who  dresses  in  drab. 
H  is  for  Hester  and  Harry  Sand  Crab. 

I,  for  Ice  Cream,  the  Maynards'  mainstay. 

J,  Cousin  Jack,  always  ready  to  play. 

K  is  for  King,  and  for  Kitty,  (that's  me). 

L  is  for  Lakewood,  where  I  went  to  sea. 

M,  Mother  Maynard,  and  Marjorie,  too. 

N  for  Nurse  Nannhe,  who  has  lots  to  do. 

O  for  the  Ocean,  with  big  breakers  bold. 

P  for  the  Pier,  where  candy  is  sold. 

Q  for  Queen  Sandy,  in  regal  array. 

R,  Rosy  Posy,  so  dainty  and  gay. 

S  is  for  Seacote,  and  Sand  Court  beside. 

T  is  for  Tom,  the  trusty  and  tried. 

U,  Uncle  Steve,  who's  helping  me  write. 

V  for  these  Verses  we  send  you  to-night. 

W,  the  Waves,  that  dash  with  such  fuss. 

X  the  Excitement  -when  one  catches  us. 

Y  for  You  Youngsters,  I've  given  your  names. 

Z  is  the  Zeal  you  show  in  your  games." 


282  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

"  My !  isn't  that  scrumptious ! "  exclaimed 
Hester.  "  You're  a  terribly  smart  family,  Mar- 
jorie." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,"  said  Midget,  modestly. 
"  Kit's  pretty  clever  at  writing  rhymes,  but  King 
and  I  can't  do  it  much.  We  make  up  songs  some- 
times, but  Kitty  makes  the  best  ones." 

"I  wish  I  could  do  it,"  said  Ruth;  "but  I 
couldn't  write  a  rhyming  thing  at  all." 

"  Well,  that's  all  there  is  in  The  Jolly  Sand- 
boy this  week,"  said  King.  "  I  didn't  write  any 
myself,  and  the  things  you  others  gave  me,  I've 
saved  for  next  week.  Now,  shall  we  go  and  cele- 
brate Pocahontas'  birthday  ?  " 

"  Is  it  really  her  birthday?  "  asked  Ruth. 

"  No,  we're  just  pretending  it  is.  But  you  see, 
poor  Poky  never  had  her  birthday  celebrated;  I 
mean, — not  legally,  like  Washington, — so  we're 
going  to  give  her  a  chance.*' 

The  Sand  Club  trooped  up  to  the  house,  and 
found  Cousin  Jack  waiting  for  them.  He  was 
a  little  surprised  to  see  Hester,  but  he  greeted 
her  pleasantly,  and  Hester  looked  so  meek  and 
mild,  one  would  hardly  believe  she  had  a  high 
temper  at  all.  A  wigwam  had  been  built  on  the 
lawn,  and  though  it  was  only  a  few  poles  covered 
•with  blankets,  it  looked  very  Indian  and  effective. 

The  Maynards  had  contrived  costumes  for  all, 


A  CELEBRATION  283 

and  in  a  few  moments  the  girls  had  on  gay-fringed 
skirts  and  little  shawls,  with  gaudy  headdresses, 
and  the  boys  had  a  nondescript  Indian  garb,  and 
wonderful  feathered  headpieces,  that  hung  grandly 
down  their  backs  like  Big  Chiefs. 

Also  they  had  pasteboard  tomahawks,  and 
Cousin  Jack  taught  them  a  war-whoop  that  was 
truly  ear-splitting. 

"  First,"  said  Mr.  Bryant,  "  we'll  all  sing  the 
Blue  Juniata,  as  that  is  a  pretty  Indian  song,  and 
so,  sort  of  appropriate  to  Pocahontas." 

So  they  all  sang  it,  with  a  will,  and  the  song 
of  "  The  Indian  Girl,  Bright  Alfarata,"  was,  in 
a  way,  a  tribute  to  Pocahontas. 

"  Now,"  Mr.  Bryant  went  on,  "  some  one  must 
tell  the  story  of  Pocahontas.  Harry,  will  you  do 
it?" 

But  the  Sand  Crab  was  too  shy  to  speak  in 
public,  so  Cousin  Jack  asked  Ruth  to  do  it. 

"  I  don't  know  it  very  well,"  said  Ruth,  "  but  I 
guess  it  was  like  this:  Captain  John  Smith  was 
about  to  be  tommyhawked  all  to  pieces  by  admir- 
ing Indians.  As  the  fell  blows  were  about  to  fell, 
up  rushes  a  beautiful  Indian  maiden,  with  her  black 
hair  streaming  in  the  breeze.  '  Fear  thou  not ! ' 
she  said,  wildly ;  '  I  will  save  thec ! '  Whereupon 
she  flang  herself  upon  him,  and  hugged  him  till 
he  couldn't  be  reached  by  his  tormentors.  The 


MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTb 

wild  Indians  were  forced  to  desist,  or  else  pierce 
to  the  heart  their  own  Pocahontas,  beloved  daugh- 
ter of  their  tribe.  So  they  released  Captain  John 
Smith,  and  so  Pocahontas  married  Captain  John 
Rolfe  instead,  and  the}'  lived  happy  ever  after. 
Hence  is  why  we  celebrate  her  birthday." 

Ruth  clearly  enjoyed  the  telling  of  this  tale, 
and  threw  herself  into  it  with  dramatic  fervor. 

The  others  listened,  enthralled  by  her  graphic 
recital  and  thrilling  diction. 

"  My ! "  exclaimed  Midget,  as  she  finished,  "  I 
didn't  know  you  knew  so  many  big  words,  Ruth." 

"I  didn't,  either,"  said  Ruth,  calmly;  "they 
sort  of  came  to  me  as  I  went  along." 

"  Well,  that's  just  as  smart  as  writing  poetry," 
declared  King,  and  Ruth  was  greatly  pleased  at 
the  compliments. 

"  Now,  my  dear  young  friends,"  Cousin  Jack 
said,  by  way  of  a  speech,  "  the  exercises  will  now 
begin.  As  you  know,  we  are  celebrating  the  birth- 
day of  a  noble  Indian  Princess.  Therefore,  our 
sports  or  diversions  will  all  be  of  an  Indian  char- 
acter. First,  we  will  have  an  Indian  Club  Drill." 

He  produced  Indian  clubs  for  all,  the  boys' 
being  heavier  ones  than  the  girls. 

These  were  new  to  the  Maynards,  but  Cousin 
Jack  soon  taught  them  how  to  use  them,  and  in- 
structed them  in  a  simple  drill. 


A  CELEBRATION  285 

Hester  learned  more  quickly  than  Marjorie,  for 
she  was  more  lithe  and  agile,  and  swung  her  clubs 
around  with  greater  ease.  Ruth  seemed  to  know 
instinctively  how  to  use  them,  which  was  partly 
due  to  her  proficiency  in  fancy  dancing.  But 
they  all  learned,  and  greatly  enjoyed  the  interest- 
ing exercise. 

Cousin  Jack  presented  the  children  with  the 
clubs  they  used,  and  they  promised  to  practise  with 
them  often. 

"  It'll  be  good  for  you  growing  young  people," 
said  Mr.  Maynard,  "  and  you  can  form  a  sort  of  a 
Pocahontas  Club." 

Then  he  had  a  gramophone  brought  out  to  the 
lawn,  and  they  whisked  their  clubs  about  to  in- 
spiriting Indian  music. 

"  Now,  I  dare  say  you're  tired,"  said  Cousin 
Jack,  "  for  Indian  club  exercise  is  a  strain  on  the 
muscles.  So  sit  in  a  circle  on  the  grass,  and  we'll 
all  smoke  pipes  of  peace  and  swap  stories  for  a 
while." 

The  "  pipes  of  peace  "  turned  out  to  be  pipes 
made  of  chocolate,  so  they  were  all  willing  to 
"  smoke  "  them. 

"  Mine's  a  pipe  of  pieces ! "  said  Midget,  as  she 
broke  the  stem  in  bits,  and  ate  them  one  by 
one. 

The  others  followed  her  example,  and  the  pipes 


286  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

had  disappeared  before  the  story-telling  fairly 
began. 

But  Cousin  Jack  told  them  some  thrilling  In- 
dian tales,  and  so  interested  were  his  hearers  that 
they  gathered  close  about  him,  and  listened  in 
absorbed  silence. 

"  Was  that  true,  Cousin  Jack?"  asked  King, 
after  an  exciting  yarn. 

"  Well,  it's  in  a  story-book  written  by  James 
Fenimore  Cooper.  You're  old  enough  to  read  his 
books  now,  and  if  I  were  you  children,  I'd 
ask  my  parents  to  buy  me  some  of  Cooper's 
works." 

*'  I'm  going  to  do  that,"  cried  Hester,  her  eyes 
dancing  at  the  thought  of  reading  such  stories  for 
herself.  "  I  never  heard  of  them  before." 

"  Well,  you're  young  yet  to  read  novels,  but 
Cooper's  are  all  right  for  you.  You  might  read 
one  aloud  in  your  Sand  Club." 

"  Yes,  we  will !  "  said  King.  "  That'll  be  fine. 
Then  one  book  would  do  for  us  all.  Or  we  might 
each  get  one,  and  then  lend  them  around  to  each 
other.  My,  we're  getting  lots  of  new  ideas  from 
our  celebration.  Indian  club  exercises  and  Cooper's 
stories  are  worth  knowing  about." 

"  And  now,"  said  Cousin  Jack,  "  if  you're 
rested,  suppose  we  march  along  Indian  File,  and 
see  if  we  can  come  across  an  Indian  Meal." 


A  CELEBRATION  287 

"Ho,  ho!"  laughed  King,  "I  don't  want  to 
eat  Indian  meal !  " 

"We'll  see  what  it  is  before  we  decide,"  said 
Midget,  judicially.  "  What  is  Indian  File,  Cousin 
Jack?" 

"  Oh,  that  only  means  single  file,  or  one  by  one. 
Not  like  the  Irishman  who  said  to  his  men, 
*  March  togither,  men !  be  twos  as  far  as  ye  go,  an' 
thin  be  wans ! '  I  want  you  to  go  '  be  wans  '  all 
the  way." 

So,  in  single  file,  they  followed  Cousin  Jack's 
lead  to  the  wigwam,  which  they  hadn't  yet  en- 
tered. He  turned  back  the  flap  of  the  tent,  and 
there  was  room  for  all  inside.  On  a  table  there 
there  were  eight  Indian  baskets,  of  pretty  design. 
On  lifting  the  covers,  each  was  found  to  contain 
an  "  Indian  Meal." 

The  meal  was  a  few  dainty  little  sandwiches  and 
cakes,  and  a  peach  and  a  pear,  all  wrapped  in 
pretty  paper  napkins,  with  an  Indian's  head  on 
the  corner. 

Exercise  had  given  the  children  good  appetites, 
and  they  were  quite  ready  to  do  full  justice  to 
the  "  Indian  Meal." 

Sarah  brought  out  lemonade,  and  later  ice 
cream,  so,  as  Midget  said,  it  really  was  a  party 
after  all. 

Of  course,  the  children  kept  the  baskets  and 


288  MARJORIE  AT  SEACOTE 

the  pretty  napkins  as  souvenirs,  and  when  the 
guests  went  home,  they  said  they  were  glad  they 
didn't  know  the  real  date  of  Pocahontas'  birth- 
day, for  it  might  have  been  in  the  winter,  and  then 
they  couldn't  have  had  nearly  as  much  fun. 

"  And  it's  lucky  we  decided  on  this  day,"  said 
Cousin  Jack,  after  the  children  had  gone,  "  for 
to-morrow  Ethel  and  I  go  back  to  Cambridge." 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Jack,  not  really ! "  cried  Midget, 
in  dismay. 

"  Yes,  kiddy ;  we've  changed  our  summer  plans 
suddenly,  and  we're  going  to  Europe  next  week. 
So  we  leave  here  to-morrow.  And  sorry,  indeed, 
are  we  to  leave  our  Maynard  friends." 

"  I'm  sorry,  too,"  said  Midget,  "  awfully  sorry, 
but  I'm  glad  we've  had  you  down  here  as  long  as 
we  have.  You've  been  awful  good  to  us,  Cousin 
Jack." 

"  You've  been  good  to  me,  Mehitabel.  And 
when  I  wander  through  the  interesting  places 
abroad,  I  shall  write  letters  to  you,  and  when  I 
come  home  again,  I'll  bring  you  a  souvenir  from 
every  place  I've  been  to." 

"  Well,  you're  just  the  dearest  Cousin  Jack  in 
all  the  world !  "  said  Midget,  and  she  gave  him  a 
big  hug  and  kiss  to  corroborate  her  words. 

"  And  you're  just  the  dearest  Mopsy  Midget 
Mehitabel !  "  he  said,  returning  her  caress. 


THE    BUNNY    BROWN   SERIES 

By  LAURA  LEE  HOPE 

Author  of  the  Popular  "Bobbsey  Twins"  Books 

Wrapper  and  text  illustrations  drawn  by 
FLORENCE  ENGLAND  NOSWORTHY 

12mo.  BOUND  IN  CLOTH.     ILLUSTRATED.     UNIFORM  STYLE  OF  BINDING. 

This  new  series  by  the  author  of  the  "Bobbsey  Twins" 
Books  will  be  eagerly  welcomed  by  the  little  folks  from  about 
fivt  to  ten  years  of  age.  Their  eyes  will  fairly  dance  with  de- 
light at  the  lively  doings  of  inquisitive  little  Bunny  Brown  and 
his  cunning,  trustful  sister  Sue. 

BUNNY  BROWN  AND  HIS  SISTER  SUE 

Bunny  was  a  lively  little  boy,  very  inquisitive.  When  he  did  any- 
thing, Sue  followed  his  leadership.  They  had  many  adventures,  some 
comical  in  the  extreme. 

LUNNY  BROWN  AND  HIS  SISTER  SUE  ON  GRAND. 

PA'S  FARM 

How  the  youngsters  journeyed  to  the  farm  in  an  auto,  and  what 
good  times  f  ouowed,  is  realistically  told. 

BUNNY  BROWN  AND  HIS  SISTER  SUE  PLAYING 

CIRCUS 

First  the  children  gave  a  little  affair,  but  when  they  obtained  an 
old  army  tent  the  show  was  truly  grand. 

BUNNY  BROWN  AND  HIS  SISTER  SUE  AT  CAMP 

REST-A-WHILE 

The  family  go  into  camp  on  the  edge  of  a  beautiful  lake,  and  Bun 
ny  and  his  sister  have  more  good  times  and  some  adventures. 

BUNNY  BROWN  AND  HIS  SISTER  SUE  AT  AUNT 

LU'S  CITY  HOME 

The  city  proved  a  wonderful  place  to  the  little  folks.  They  took  in 
all  the  sights  and  helped  a  colored  girl  who  had  run  away  from  home. 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,         PUBLISHERS,        NEW  YORK 


THE. MOVING  PICTURE^BOYS 

SERIES 

By  VICTOR  APPLETON 

12mo.  BOUND  IN  CLOTH.       ILLUSTRATED.       UNIFORM  STYLE  OF  CEDING. 

,  Moving  pictures  and  photo  plays  are  famous  the  world 
lever,  and  in  this  line  of  books  the  reader  is  given  a  full 
description  of  how  the  films  are  made — the  scenes  of  little 
dramas,  indoors  and  out,  trick  pictures  to  satisfy  the  curious, 
soul-stirring  pictures  of  city  affairs,  life  in  the  Wild  West, 
among  the  cowboys  and  Indians,  thrilling  rescues  along  the 
seaco*st,  the  daring  of  picture  hunters  in  _the  jungle  among 
savage  beasts,  and  the  great  risks  run  in  picturing  ^conditions 
<  in  a  land  of  earthquakes.  The  volumes  ^teem  with  adven- 
tures and  will  be  found  interesting  from  first  chapttf  4o  last. 

THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS 
Or  Perils  of  a  Great  City  Depicted. 

THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS  IN  THE  WEST 
Or  Taking  Scenes  Among  the  Cowboys  and  Indians. 

THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS  ON  THE  COAST 
Or  Showing  the  Perils  of  the  Deep. 

THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS  IN  THE  JUNGLE 
Or  Stirring  Times  Among  the  Wild  Animals. 

THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS  IN  EARTHQUAKE 
Or  Working  Amid  Many  Perils.  LAND 

THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS  AND  THE  FLOOD 
Or   Perilous  Days  on  the  Mississippi. 

I  THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS  AT  PANAMA 
Or  Stirring  Adventures  Along  the  Great  Canal. 

THE  MOVING  PICTURE  BOYS  UNDER  THE  SEA 
Or  The  Treasure  of  the  Lost  Ship. 

_  --"i 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,        PUBLISHERS,        NEW 


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